I just checked, only 5 months of my checking account could be downloaded. Not sure if this was a transaction limit, or a time limit. (I tried putting in a date in 2006).

I love USAA. I just submitted a 'suggestion' to USAA to increase the time limit. My guess is that they probably only keep ~6 months worth of transactions online accessible.

I haven't used Microsoft Money or Quicken in a while to see if that allows someone to pull more information. If I ever started using one of those tools again, then I'd probably like to be able to pull a few years worth of data.

http://blogs.ajc.com/kyle-wingfield/2009/11/30/obamas-cabinet-this-graph-explains-a-lot/ "the previous low-water mark for private-sector experience since 1900, the JFK administration, was still three times higher than the Obama Cabinet’s level."

If you read the fine print on your bill, you'll see the federal government has stepped in to mandate that carriers must cover the rural areas (and pass the bill on to us.). "Federal Universal Service Fund 12.9% " (If you're on AT&T, choose "change my rate plan" --> "Other Monthly Charges"). Maybe AT&T is just waiting for the government to mandate "get your network up to capacity to handle your customer load" - and then pass it along to us as a tax / surcharge.

Pacemakers have not been wireless hooked up via the a home monitoring system managed by St. Jude (until now), Medtronic, nor BSC. ICD's have been. (I can't speak for OUS companies). TTM monitoring has been hapening for years. (8 second EKG's, and battery strength, etc...)

A key thing that is left out (But what most people have surmised):

    Pacemaker <--MICS Band--> Home monitoring unit (developed by pacemaker company; obtains IP address - typically via dial-up.) <--TCP/IP--> PaceMaker Companies Servers <-- TCP/IP--> Physician Web connection

The 400mhz is considered to be the MICS band - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_Implant_Communication_Service . The great thing about MICS is that it covers not only 'both sides' of the pond, but pretty much all sides. (E.g. Asia, Europe, and the US). The 'challenge' with 400mhz is that it's only a 'few meters' coverage. So you have to have the home monitoring unit (the unit that actually does 'connect' to the internet and the implanted device) within a 'few meters' of the device/patient.

Pacemakers are very small, compared with an ICD (defibrillator). In both cases, battery space is one of the biggest uses of the volume of the CAN. (in a defib you also have a large capacitor). The more energy you use for communication, the faster you drain the battery - and the less power you have for therapy. No one has an 'externally rechargeable' unit - so the only option is to put the patient under for surgery and replace the unit. (Low risk - BUT, there is a risk... and it's a surgery. and these things aren't cheap)

It will probably be a long time before your pacemaker signs on automatically to the local WiFi connection to 'dial home' to the physician. (Power, security, and proprietary data communication formats to name a few reasons).

One commenter early said, "pacemakers have been connected for years" - that's via "TTM" - http://www.google.com/search?q=transtelephonic+monitoring+pacemaker&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

TTM doesn't provide very much data from the CAN. Basically and EGRAM, battery strength, and maybe a few other items. The at home monitoring unit can pull more data from the can.

The great thing about these systems are the peace of mind from monitoring the pacemaker on a daily/weekly/monthly basis versus once every 6-12 months or 'when the patient feels bad.' And when the patient does 'feel bad' the physician can pull up the latest information from the pacemaker the help determine if the patient should come in or not.

Company Websites:
St. Jude (Featured) - House Call - http://www.sjm.com/devices/device.aspx?name=housecall+plus+remote+patient+monitoring+system&location=us&type=10
Boston Scientific - http://www.aboutlatitude.com/
Medtronic - http://www.medtronic.com/physician/carelink/index.html

"any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form."

Can I just give them the Hard drive and keep the rest of the case? A hard drive can be replaced for a few hundred dollars. All my companies data on the system is encrypted*, and I backup my laptop frequently - esp. before traveling internationally (figuring there's a better chance of losing the device/ having it be stolen than anything else).

The LCD, case, etc. can't be replaced for under 800-$1000...

Maybe it's the wave of next generation enhancements for your laptop: "Quick ejecting Hard Drive" for those situations where TSA wants your stuff."

*It should only take TSA about 2yrs to get back at the data if they misplace my password. (I wonder what my companies policy is on giving out my password to TSA - I think if I gave it to someone else it would be grounds for dismissal :-/