Configuration of implanted devices

• US 20040024429A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Daly, Christopher Newton
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data

Abstract

An arrangement for implanted medical devices in which the implant (20) includes certain parameters (21) stored in memory. Upon initialisation, these parameters are downloaded to the external component (30). This allows for simpler changes to the external device, or for a generic external device to be used. A particular application is to Cochlear implants.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device system, of the type including an implant, an external processor, and a communications link operatively provided between the implant and the external processor, said system being of the type in which parameters specific to a given user or implant are required to be applied in said external processor, and the external processor operatively provides on-going information derived from said parameters to said implant,

characterized in that said implant includes memory means storing at least some of said parameters, and said implant is adapted to download said parameters to said processor.

2. An implantable medical device system according to claim 1, wherein said parameters include parameters specific to the user, and parameters specific to said implant.

3. An implantable medical device system according to claim 2, wherein operatively said communications link is active bi-directionally, so that said implant provides data to said external processor indicating its identity.

4. An implantable medical device system according to claim 1, wherein said implant is a neural stimulation device.

5. An implantable medical device system according to claim 4, wherein said implant is an auditory neural stimulation device.

6. A medical implant, adapted to operatively communicate using a communications link with an external processor, said external processor operatively providing on-going instructions to said implant, and said processor requiring parameters specific to a given user to generate said instructions, said implant being characterized in that it includes memory means storing at least some of said parameters, and said implant is adapted to download said parameters to said processor.

7. An implant according to claim 6, wherein said parameters include parameters specific to the user, and parameters specific to said implant.

8. An implant according to claim 7, wherein operatively said communications link is active bi-directionally, so that said implant is adapted to provide data to said external processor indicating its identity.

9. An implant according to claim 6, wherein said implant is a neural stimulation device.

10. An implant according to claim 9, wherein said implant is an auditory neural stimulation device.

11. An external processor for use with an implanted medical device, of the type in which a communications link is operatively provided between the implanted medical device and the external processor, said system being of the type in which parameters specific to a given user are required to be applied in said processor, and the external processor operatively provides on-going information derived from said parameters to said implanted medical device,

characterized in that said external processor is adapted to receive parameters downloaded from said implant for use in said external processor, said parameters being downloaded when said processor is placed in an operative state.

12. An external processor according to claim 11, wherein said parameters are not retained in said processor for re-use when said processor is next placed in an operative state.

13. An external processor according to claim 12, said parameters include parameters specific to the user, and parameters specific to said implant.

14. An external processor according to claim 13, wherein operatively said communications link is active bi-directionally, said processor being adapted to receive data from said implant indicating the identity of the implant, and if said information is not received in a predefined manner, said external processor shuts down.

15. An external processor according to claim 11, wherein the external processor is adapted for use with an implant being a neural stimulation device.

16. An external processor according to claim 15, wherein the external processor is adapted for use with an implant being an auditory neural stimulation device.

17. A method for providing implant or user specific parameters in an implantable medical device system, said system including an exernal processor, on implant, and a communications link between said implant and said external processor, said method including at least the steps of:

said processor transmitting an initialisation signal;

said implant receiving said initialisation signal; and

transmitting from memory a set of parameters;

said processor receiving said set, and processing said set so that said parameters are available for operative use.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said method further includes periodic signals being transmitted from said implant to said processor, and if a predetermined number of said signals are not received, said processor switches to an inoperative mode.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the set of parameters includes one or more of user specific parameters, and implant specific parameter.