Hello from the Other Side: Communication Between Implants and Externals

As implantable medical devices become more intelligent and their monitoring capabilities expand, it becomes crucial to have a communications link with the outside world. External products are the gateway for physicians and patients alike to interact with an implanted device to realize its complete capabilities. This presentation will touch on various methods of communication with implantable medical devices, along with their advantages and disadvantages. It will also show how communication approaches have changed and detail current challenges. Finally, this presentation will conclude with a discussion on upcoming technologies and opportunities for improvement.