US Patent 7794384 Dual communication interface for artificial heart system

An artificial heart pump system has a heart pump implanted in a patient. A pump control unit worn by a patient includes a programmable device for adapting a secure aspect of heart pump operation in response to pump operating commands. The pump control unit has a wired interface and a wireless interface. A clinical external unit is adapted to be connected to the wired interface for delivering a pump operating command to the pump control unit. An auxiliary external unit is adapted to be connected to the wireless interface for collecting patient and/or pump system performance-related data from the pump control unit. The wireless interface is unable to consummate a pump operating command.