Systems and methods for communicating with an implantable stimulator

• US 20050131494A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• 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: Park, Rudolph V., Marnfeldt, Goran N., Parramon, Jordi, Klosterman, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• 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 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• 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 an implantable stimulator includes a coil configured to transmit a signal modulated with on-off keying (OOK) modulation to transmit control data. The system further includes a first telemetry receiver in the implantable stimulator configured to receive the control data in accordance with the OOK modulation. An exemplary method of communicating with an implantable stimulator includes modulating a signal with control data using OOK modulation and transmitting the signal to the implantable stimulator.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with an implantable stimulator, said system comprising:

a coil configured to transmit a signal modulated with on-off keying (OOK) modulation to transmit control data; and

a first telemetry receiver in said implantable stimulator configured to receive said control data in accordance with said OOK modulation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said coil is further configured to transmit a signal modulated with a frequency dependent telemetry scheme to transmit additional control data, said system further comprising a second telemetry receiver in said implantable stimulator configured to receive said additional control data in accordance with said frequency dependent telemetry scheme.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said frequency dependent telemetry scheme comprises a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation scheme.

4. The system of claim 2, said system further comprising:

a reference clock generation circuit configured to generate a reference clock signal used by said second telemetry receiver;

wherein said control data comprises calibration data used to calibrate said reference clock generation circuit such that said reference clock signal is synchronized with a frequency used by said coil to transmit said signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said calibration data is transmitted by said coil using said OOK modulation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a control bit “

0”

is represented by a first pulse width and a control bit “

1”

is represented by a second pulse width, wherein a transition between one control bit and an adjacent control bit is marked by a change in said transmitted signal from an ON to an OFF state or from said OFF state to said ON state, wherein said ON state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a first frequency, and wherein said OFF state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a second frequency.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said control data comprises a start bit and a number of control bits, said start bit being transmitted before said control bits.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first telemetry receiver comprises:

a bit threshold counter configured to measure a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to said start bit and generate a bit width threshold;

a pulse width counter configured to measure a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to one of said control bits; and

a comparator configured to compare said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits with said bit width threshold;

wherein if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is greater than said bit width threshold, said comparator outputs a first binary bit and if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is less than or equal to said bit width threshold, said comparator outputs a second binary bit.

9. A system for communicating with an implantable stimulator, said system comprising:

a coil configured to transmit a signal comprising control data in accordance with a first telemetry scheme or a second telemetry scheme;

a first telemetry receiver for receiving said control data in accordance with said first telemetry scheme; and

a second telemetry receiver for receiving said control data in accordance with said second telemetry scheme.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said first telemetry scheme comprises a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation scheme.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said second telemetry scheme comprises an on-off keying (OOK) modulation scheme.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a control bit “

0”

is represented by a first pulse width and a control bit “

1”

is represented by a second pulse width, wherein a transition between one control bit and an adjacent control bit is marked by a change in said transmitted signal from an ON to an OFF state or from said OFF state to said ON state, wherein said ON state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a first frequency, and wherein said OFF state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a second frequency.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said control data comprises a start bit and a number of control bits, said start bit being transmitted before said control bits.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said second telemetry receiver comprises:

a bit threshold counter configured to measure a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to said start bit and generate a bit width threshold;

a pulse width counter configured to measure a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to one of said control bits; and

a comparator configured to compare said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits with said bit width threshold;

wherein if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is greater than said bit width threshold, said comparator outputs a first binary bit and if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is less than or equal to said bit width threshold, said comparator outputs a second binary bit.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said coil transits said signal in accordance with said second telemetry scheme while said implantable stimulator is operating in a hibernation or storage state.

16. The system of claim 9, said system further comprising:

a reference clock generation circuit configured to generate a reference clock signal used by said first telemetry receiver;

wherein said control data comprises calibration data used to calibrate said reference clock generation circuit such that said reference clock signal is synchronized with a frequency used by said coil to transmit said signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said calibration data is transmitted by said coil in accordance with said second telemetry scheme, said second telemetry scheme comprising an on-off keying (OOK) modulation scheme.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein said second telemetry scheme is frequency independent.

19. An implantable stimulator, comprising:

a coil configured to receive a signal comprising control data in accordance with a first telemetry scheme or a second telemetry scheme;

a first telemetry receiver configured to process and demodulate said control data in accordance with said first telemetry scheme; and

a second telemetry receiver configured to process and demodulate said control data in accordance with said second telemetry scheme.

20. The stimulator of claim 19, further comprising:

a pulse generator configured to generate electrical stimulation pulses through a plurality of electrodes; and

a control circuit configured to control said pulse generator in accordance with said control data.

21. The stimulator of claim 19, wherein said first telemetry scheme comprises a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation scheme.

22. The stimulator of claim 19, wherein said second telemetry scheme comprises an on-off keying (OOK) modulation scheme.

23. The stimulator of claim 22, wherein a control bit “

0”

is represented by a first pulse width and a control bit “

1”

is represented by a second pulse width, wherein a transition between one control bit and an adjacent control bit is marked by a change in said transmitted signal from an ON to an OFF state or from said OFF state to said ON state, wherein said ON state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a first frequency, and wherein said OFF state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a second frequency.

24. The stimulator of claim 22, wherein said control data comprises a start bit and a number of control bits, said start bit being transmitted before said control bits, wherein said transmitted signal comprises pulses corresponding to said start bit and to each of said control bits.

25. The stimulator of claim 24, wherein said second telemetry receiver comprises:

a bit threshold counter configured to measure a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to said start bit and generate a bit width threshold;

a pulse width counter configured to measure a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to one of said control bits; and

a comparator configured to compare said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits with said bit width threshold;

wherein if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is greater than said bit width threshold, said comparator outputs a first binary bit and if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is less than or equal to said bit width threshold, said comparator outputs a second binary bit.

26. The stimulator of claim 22, wherein said coil transits said signal in accordance with said second telemetry scheme while said stimulator is operating in a hibernation or storage state.

27. The stimulator of claim 19, said stimulator further comprising:

a reference clock generation circuit configured to generate a reference clock signal used by said first telemetry receiver;

wherein said control data comprises calibration data used to calibrate said reference clock generation circuit such that said reference clock signal is synchronized with a frequency used by said coil to transmit said signal.

28. The stimulator of claim 27, wherein said calibration data is transmitted by said coil in accordance with said second telemetry scheme, said second telemetry scheme comprising an on-off keying (OOK) modulation scheme.

29. The stimulator of claim 19, wherein said second telemetry scheme is frequency independent.

30. A device configured to communicate with an implantable stimulator, said device comprising:

a coil configured to transmit a signal comprising control data in accordance with a first telemetry scheme or a second telemetry scheme.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said first telemetry scheme comprises a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation scheme.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein said second telemetry scheme comprises an on-off keying (OOK) modulation scheme.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein a control bit “

0”

is represented by a first pulse width and a control bit “

1”

is represented by a second pulse width, wherein a transition between one control bit and an adjacent control bit is marked by a change in said transmitted signal from an ON to an OFF state or from said OFF state to said ON state, wherein said ON state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a first frequency, and wherein said OFF state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a second frequency.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein said control data comprises a start bit and a number of control bits, said start bit being transmitted before said control bits, wherein said transmitted signal comprises pulses corresponding to said start bit and to each of said control bits.

35. The device of claim 30, wherein said second telemetry scheme is frequency independent.

36. A method of communicating with an implantable stimulator, said method comprising:

modulating a signal with control data using on-off keying (OOK) modulation; and

transmitting said signal to said implantable stimulator.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising receiving said control data in accordance with said OOK modulation scheme.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of transmitting said signal comprising said control data comprises transmitting a start bit and a number of control bits, said start bit being transmitted before said control bits.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of receiving said control data in accordance with said OOK modulation scheme comprises:

measuring a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to said start bit and generating a bit width threshold;

measuring a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to one of said control bits;

comparing said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits with said bit width threshold;

outputting a first binary bit if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is greater than said bit width threshold; and

outputting a second binary bit if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is less than or equal to said bit width threshold.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

transmitting a second signal comprising additional control data in accordance with a frequency dependent telemetry scheme; and

receiving said additional control data in accordance with said frequency dependent telemetry scheme.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said frequency dependent telemetry scheme comprises a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation scheme.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

generating a reference clock signal used in said step of receiving said control data in accordance with said frequency dependent telemetry scheme; and

calibrating said reference clock signal with calibration data included in said control data such that said reference clock signal is synchronized with a frequency used in said transmission of said control data.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said calibration data is transmitted in accordance with said first telemetry scheme.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein a control bit “

0”

is represented by a first pulse width and a control bit “

1”

is represented by a second pulse width, wherein a transition between one control bit and an adjacent control bit is marked by a change in said transmitted signal from an ON to an OFF state or from said OFF state to said ON state, wherein said ON state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a first frequency, and wherein said OFF state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a second frequency.

45. A system for communicating with an implantable stimulator, said system comprising:

means for modulating a signal with control data using on-off keying (OOK) modulation; and

means for transmitting said signal to said implantable stimulator.

46. The system of claim 45, further comprising means for receiving said control data in accordance with said OOK modulation scheme.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said means for transmitting said signal comprising said control data comprises means for transmitting a start bit and a number of control bits, said start bit being transmitted before said control bits.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said means for receiving said control data in accordance with said OOK modulation scheme comprises:

means for measuring a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to said start bit and generating a bit width threshold;

means for measuring a pulse width of a pulse corresponding to one of said control bits;

means for comparing said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits with said bit width threshold;

means for outputting a first binary bit if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is greater than said bit width threshold; and

means for outputting a second binary bit if said pulse width corresponding to said one of said control bits is less than or equal to said bit width threshold.

49. The system of claim 45, further comprising:

means for transmitting a second signal comprising additional control data in accordance with a frequency dependent telemetry scheme; and

means for receiving said additional control data in accordance with said frequency dependent telemetry scheme.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said frequency dependent telemetry scheme comprises a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation scheme.

51. The system of claim 45, further comprising:

means for generating a reference clock signal used in said step of receiving said control data in accordance with said frequency dependent telemetry scheme; and

means for calibrating said reference clock signal with calibration data included in said control data such that said reference clock signal is synchronized with a frequency used in said transmission of said control data.

52. The system of claim 45, further comprising means for transmitting calibration data in accordance with said first telemetry scheme.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein a control bit “

0”

is represented by a first pulse width and a control bit “

1”

is represented by a second pulse width, wherein a transition between one control bit and an adjacent control bit is marked by a change in said transmitted signal from an ON to an OFF state or from said OFF state to said ON state, wherein said ON state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a first frequency, and wherein said OFF state is characterized by said transmitted signal having a second frequency.