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A drug delivery system and method in which an implantable medical device communicates with and controls an external drug delivery device with low energy potential signals. The implantable device generates potential signals modulated with digitally encoded command information by operating a current s

A drug delivery system and method in which an implantable medical device communicates with and controls an external drug delivery device with low energy potential signals. The implantable device generates potential signals modulated with digitally encoded command information by operating a current source to cause corresponding electrical potentials that can be sensed at the skin surface by the external drug delivery device. The drug delivery device then demodulates the sensed potentials and decodes the digital data to extract command information therefrom to deliver a drug accordingly.

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1. A method for measuring a physiological variable and drug delivery comprising: applying a constant amplitude current between two implanted excitation electrodes in the form of an oscillating carrier waveform; measuring a physiological variable as the potential difference between two implanted

1. A method for measuring a physiological variable and drug delivery comprising: applying a constant amplitude current between two implanted excitation electrodes in the form of an oscillating carrier waveform; measuring a physiological variable as the potential difference between two implanted sense electrodes as the constant amplitude current is applied; modulating the carrier waveform with command information generated by an implantable medical device to thereby cause corresponding electrical potential signals that can be sensed at a skin surface location; receiving and demodulating sensed potential signals at a skin surface location; deriving command information from the demodulated potential signals; and, controlling delivery of a drug from an external drug delivery device in accordance with the command information. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the drug delivery device delivers the drug by electrically modulated transdermal injection. 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the potential signals in the form of a carrier waveform digitally modulated with the digitally encoded command information by varying the amplitude of the carrier waveform. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the potential signals in the form of a carrier waveform digitally modulated with the digitally encoded command information by varying the frequency of the carrier waveform. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the potential signals in the form of a digital pulse train modulated with the digitally encoded information by varying the frequency of the pulses and amplitude modulating a carrier waveform with the modulated pulse train. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the potential signals in the form of a digital pulse train modulated with the digitally encoded information by varying the width of the pulses and amplitude modulating a carrier waveform with the modulated pulse train. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the potential signals in the form of a digital pulse train modulated with the digitally encoded information by varying the position of the pulses and amplitude modulating a carrier waveform with the modulated pulse train. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: sensing electrical activity occurring in a patient's heart and generating sensing signals in accordance therewith; extracting information from the sensing signals and detecting a particular medical condition from the extracted information; and, modulating the carrier signal with a command signal generated by the implantable medical device and transmitting the command signal to the external drug delivery device if the medical condition is present. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the potential difference between the sense electrodes when the constant amplitude current is applied reflects transthoracic impedance, and further wherein the measured physiological variable is minute ventilation. 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering the drug from the external delivery device by transdermal injection. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the potential difference between the sense electrodes when the constant amplitude current is applied reflects transthoracic impedance, and further wherein the measured physiological variable is cardiac stroke volume.