Patent ID: 8473065

Claim:
Electronic medical apparatus adapted to be implanted in a human patient, a so-called implantable medical device (IMD), which may be alternatively automatically self-controlled and remotely controlled by a medical expert, said apparatus comprising, in combination: (a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting medical data sensed from said patient to, and for receiving control signals from, a remote location; (b) an electronic medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to control signals applied thereto; (c) a sensor circuit, having a sensor circuit output, for producing at least one sensor circuit output signal at said sensor circuit output in response to the medical data sensed from the patient; and (d) a logic device coupled to each of (i) said sensor circuit output, (ii) said first T/R device, and (iii) said treatment device, for (i) analysis of said at least one sensor circuit output signal, (ii) generating a remote station notification signal, (iii) generating at least one local treatment device control signal, and (iv) generating at least one remote treatment device control signal; wherein: (1) said logic device analyzes said at least one sensor circuit output signal to detect a medical abnormality which requires notification of the medical expert at the remote location, and is operative to generate a notification signal, for consideration by said medical expert when said analysis reveals said medical abnormality; (2) upon receipt of said notification signal, said first T/R device transmits said notification signal representing at least one medical state of said patient to the remote location; (3) said logic device analyzes said at least one sensor circuit output signal to detect a medical abnormality which requires treatment and is operative to generate at least one local treatment device control signal, if required; and (4) said logic device is operative to generate at least one remote treatment device control signal in response to at least one remote control signal received from the remote location by said first T/R device; wherein said logic device determines whether to issue a notification signal, to issue a local treatment signal, to issue both a notification and a local treatment signal, or to issue neither a notification nor a local treatment signal, based on said analysis, whereby said IMD delivers therapy, if required, in response to one of said at least one local treatment device control signals and said at least one remote treatment device control signals.