Body area network communication collision avoidance concept for medical systems

Inventors

Huegerich, Burkhard

Assignees

Biotronik SE and Co KG

Abstract

A medical system, comprising a plurality of devices forming nodes of a network, each device of said plurality of devices is configured to communicate with another device in a wireless fashion by receiving a message from another device in the network or by transmitting a message to another device in the network. A priority is assigned to each device, wherein as long as no other transmission of a message is ongoing in the network, each device is configured to initiate a transmission of a message by transmitting a start signal, wherein the higher the priority of the respective device, the higher the duration of the start signal allocated to the respective device. In case several devices in the network simultaneously initiate a transmission of a message by transmitting a start signal, a permission to transmit a message is automatically granted to the device in the network with the highest priority.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a medical system in which a plurality of devices form nodes of a network and communicate wirelessly by receiving a message from another device or by transmitting a message to another device. A priority is assigned to each device, and as long as no other transmission of a message is ongoing in the network, each device initiates message transmission by transmitting a start signal. The start signal duration is based on the device’s assigned priority.

When several devices in the network simultaneously initiate transmission by transmitting start signals, a permission to transmit a message is automatically granted to the transmission-initiating device in the network having a highest priority. The described system operates to avoid inhibition and supports a communication mode in which devices use receiving-mode operation together with transmission initiation by start signals.

Further embodiments include non-inhibition behavior via receiving-mode operation, including returning to receiving mode for a predefined time period after a start signal and postponing message transmission when another start signal or transmission activity is detected during that period. The disclosed timing control includes enforcing distinct start-signal durations and applying a timing constraint in which a time difference between start signals exceeds a transmission-to-receiving transition time, including a relation to the longest such transition time among the plurality of devices. Illustrative configurations include an intracardiac pacemaker and optional sensors such as a blood-pressure sensor or an ECG loop recorder.

Claims Coverage

The document provides two independent claims: a system claim and a method claim. Both center on assigning device priorities and using priority-dependent start-signal durations, with automatic transmission permission granted to the highest-priority device when multiple devices initiate simultaneously.

Across the independent system and method claims, the core claim coverage focuses on priority assignment, initiation of transmission by transmitting a start signal whose duration depends on that priority, and automatic granting of transmit permission to the highest-priority device when simultaneous start-signal initiation occurs.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications