METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATIONS WITH AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE

An implantable medical device and a method of operation thereof. The implantable device includes apparatus for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control circuitry for modifying operation of the device. The device further includes an audio receiver responsive to sequences of DTMF tones and coupled to the control circuitry, which modifies the operation of the device responsive to received DTMF tone sequences. The device preferably includes a telemetry system and the control circuitry may modify operation of the telemetry system responsive to received DTMF tone sequences. In addition or alternatively, the control circuitry may modify operation of the apparatus for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter responsive to received DTMF tone sequences. The device may further include an audio tone generator for generating a tone or series of tones indicative of operation or status of the device.