Systems and methods for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator

• US 20050119716A1
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: McClure, Kelly H., Fister, Michael L., Loftin, Scott M., Ozawa, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0081 with antenna coils loop aerials H01Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/02 Amplitude-modulated carrier systems, e.g. using on-off keying; Single sideband or vestigial sideband modulation H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence

Abstract

An exemplary system for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator includes a coil configured to emit a magnetic field for driving a corresponding circuit in the implantable stimulator and a coil driver circuit configured to drive the coil with a tuning frequency. The coil driver circuit actively adjusts the tuning frequency such that the coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency. An exemplary method of communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator includes driving a coil with a tuning frequency and actively adjusting the tuning frequency such that the coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency. The coil emits a magnetic field used to drive a corresponding circuit in the implantable stimulator.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator, said system comprising:

a coil configured to emit a magnetic field for driving a corresponding circuit in said implantable stimulator; and

a coil driver circuit configured to drive said coil with a tuning frequency;

wherein said coil driver circuit actively adjusts said tuning frequency such that said coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said coil driver circuit comprises:

a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) configured to generate said tuning frequency;

an amplifier connected between said VCO and said coil;

a circuit configured to measure an output power of said coil; and

a control function configured to monitor said measured output power of said coil;

wherein said control function causes said VCO to adjust said tuning frequency in response to said output power of said coil.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said corresponding circuit in said stimulator comprises:

a receiving coil driven by said coil; and

a circuit configured to measure a received power of said receiving coil and report said received power to said control function;

wherein said control function is further configured to monitor said received power and adjust said tuning frequency in response to said received power.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said coil driver circuit comprises:

a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) configured to generate said tuning frequency;

an amplifier connected between said VCO and said coil;

a circuit configured to measure current flowing through said coil; and

a control function configured to monitor said measured current flowing through said coil;

wherein said control function causes said VCO to adjust said tuning frequency in response to said current flowing through said coil.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said coil driver circuit further comprises:

a circuit configured to measure input power into said amplifier;

wherein said control function is further configured to monitor said measured input power and adjust said tuning frequency in response to a ratio of said output power of said coil to said input power into said amplifier.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller that is programmed to use said coil to transfer power to said stimulator.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller that is programmed to use said coil to transmit data to said stimulator.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller that is programmed to use said coil to receive data from said stimulator.

9. A method of communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator, said method comprising:

driving a coil with a tuning frequency, said coil emitting a magnetic field used to drive a corresponding circuit in said implantable stimulator; and

actively adjusting said tuning frequency such that said coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of actively adjusting said tuning frequency comprises:

measuring an output power of said coil; and

adjusting said tuning frequency in response to said output power of said coil.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of actively adjusting said tuning frequency further comprises:

measuring a received power of a receiving coil in said implantable stimulator; and

adjusting said tuning frequency in response to said received power.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of actively adjusting said tuning frequency further comprises:

measuring an input power into an amplifier providing a driving signal to said coil; and

adjusting said tuning frequency in response to a comparison of said output power of said coil to said input power into said amplifier.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of actively adjusting said tuning frequency comprises:

measuring a current flowing through said coil; and

adjusting said tuning frequency in response to said current through said coil.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising transferring power to said stimulator.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting data to said stimulator.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving data from said stimulator.

17. A system for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator, said system comprising:

means for driving a coil with a tuning frequency, said coil emitting a magnetic field used to drive a corresponding circuit in said implantable stimulator; and

means for actively adjusting said tuning frequency such that said coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for actively adjusting said tuning frequency comprises:

means for measuring an output power of said coil; and

means for adjusting said tuning frequency in response to said output power of said coil.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for actively tuning said tuning frequency further comprises:

means for measuring a received power of a receiving coil in said implantable stimulator; and

means for adjusting said tuning frequency in response to said received power.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for actively adjusting said tuning frequency further comprises:

means for measuring an input power into an amplifier providing a driving signal to said coil; and

means for adjusting said tuning frequency in response to a comparison of said output power of said coil to said input power into said amplifier.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for actively adjusting said tuning frequency further comprises:

means for measuring a current flowing through said coil; and

means for adjusting said tuning frequency in response to said current through said coil.