Patent ID: 8515547

Claim:
A portable patient communicator (PPC) for effecting communications via a wireless network connection and for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD), the portable patient communicator comprising: a housing configured for portability for an ambulatory patient; memory configured to store medical firmware and wireless radio firmware; a processor coupled to the memory, the processor and the memory provided in the housing; a first radio provided in the housing and configured to effect communications with the PIMD in accordance with the medical firmware; a second radio provided in the housing and configured to effect communications via the wireless network connection in accordance with the wireless radio firmware; the processor configured to perform a self diagnostic of the PPC using the first and the second radios cooperatively by using the first radio as a transmitter while using the second radio as a receiver, and using the second radio as a transmitter while using the first radio as a receiver; and a power source configured to supply power for the portable patient communicator.