System of implantable devices for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters

• US 20050256551A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Schulman, Joseph H., Gord, John C., Dell, Robert Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/72 Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5058 having means for restoring the perception of senses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• 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 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• 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

Abstract

A system for monitoring and/or affecting parameters of a patient'"'"'s body and more particularly to such a system comprised of a system control unit (SCU) and one or more other devices, preferably battery-powered, implanted in the patient'"'"'s body, i.e., within the envelope defined by the patient'"'"'s skin. Each such implanted device is configured to be monitored and/or controlled by the SCU via a wireless communication channel. In accordance with the invention, the SCU comprises a programmable unit capable of (1) transmitting commands to at least some of a plurality of implanted devices and (2) receiving data signal from at least some of those implanted devices. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the system operates in closed loop fashion whereby the commands transmitted by the SCU are dependent, in part, on the content of the data signals received by the SCU.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A device suitable for implantation via injection beneath the skin of a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a sealed elongate housing having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm;

power consuming circuitry at least partially disposed in said housing having at least one electrode suitable for tissue stimulation or body parameter sensing;

said power consuming circuitry being responsive to a remotely provided command data signal to thereby modify the operation of said device;

a battery disposed in said housing electrically connected to said power consuming circuitry for powering said circuitry; and

wherein

said battery has an energy capacity of at least 1 microwatt-hour.

48. The device of claim 47 wherein said battery comprises:

a case;

a first conductive plate mounted in said case;

a second conductive plate mounted in said case in opposed spaced relationship relative to said first plate;

an electrolyte disposed between said first and second plates; and

wherein

said plates are formed to include gaps to accordingly minimize eddy currents therein.

49. The device of claim 47 wherein said battery comprises a rechargeable battery, said device further comprising an internal coil and a charging circuit disposed in said housing for supplying a charging current to said rechargeable battery in response to an externally provided AC magnetic field.

50. The device of claim 47 wherein said battery is a primary battery.

51. The device of claim 47 wherein said power consuming circuitry comprises:

a controller;

address storage circuitry for storing an identification address;

stimulation circuitry coupled to said at least one electrode;

sensor circuitry coupled to said at least one electrode;

a data signal receiver for receiving said remotely provided command data signal identifying said stored identification address; and

wherein

said device is configurable via said remotely provided command data signal identifying said stored identification address to selectively operate to (1) supply a sequence of drive pulses to said at least one electrode via said stimulation circuitry, or (2) sense an electrical signal from said at least one electrode via said sensor circuitry.

52. The device of claim 47 wherein said power consuming circuitry includes:

a controller;

address storage circuitry for storing an identification address;

sensor circuitry coupled to said at least one electrode; and

a data signal receiver for receiving said remotely provided command data signal identifying said stored identification address for selectively sensing a signal from said at least one electrode via said sensor circuitry.

53. The device of claim 47 wherein said power consuming circuitry includes:

a controller;

address storage circuitry for storing an identification address;

stimulation circuitry coupled to said at least one electrode; and

a data signal receiver for receiving said remotely provided command data signal identifying said stored identification address for selectively providing an electrical current to said at least one electrode via said stimulation circuitry.

54. The device of claim 53 wherein said data signal receiver includes a coil responsive to said remotely provided command data signal defined by a modulated magnetic field.

55. The device of claim 53 wherein said data signal receiver includes a transducer responsive to said remotely provided command data signal defined by a modulated ultrasonic signal.

56. The device of claim 53 wherein said data signal receiver is responsive to said remotely provided command data signal defined by an RF signal.

57. The device of claim 53 wherein said power consuming circuitry further includes a data signal transmitter for remotely transmitting a data signal to an external device.

58. The device of claim 57 wherein said data signal transmitter transmits a data signal in the form of a modulated magnetic field.

59. The device of claim 57 wherein said data signal transmitter transmits a data signal in the form of a modulated ultrasonic signal.

60. The device of claim 57 wherein said data signal transmitter transmits a data signal in the form of a modulated RF signal.

61. The device of claim 57 wherein said power consuming circuitry additionally comprises:

sensor circuitry coupled to said at least one electrode; and

a data signal receiver for receiving said remotely provided command data signal identifying said stored address for selectively sensing a signal from said at least one electrode; and

wherein

said device is configurable via said remotely provided command data signal identifying said stored address to selectively operate to (1) supply a sequence of drive pulses to said at least one electrode via said stimulation circuitry, or (2) sense an electrical signal from said at least one electrode via said sensor circuitry.

62. The device of claim 57 additionally comprising:

sensor circuitry coupled to said at least one electrode; and

wherein

said controller is configured to cause said data signal transmitter to periodically transmit a data signal representative of an electrical signal conducted by said electrode.

63. The device of claim 57 wherein said controller is configured to cause said data signal transmitter to periodically transmit a data signal representative of the status of said battery.

64. The device of claim 53 wherein said stimulation circuitry coupled to at least one electrode is configured to produce an electrical current for stimulating tissue;

and wherein

said controller causes said stimulation circuitry to supply a sequence of drive pulses to said at least one electrode when said controller actuates said stimulation circuitry.

65. The device of claim 64 wherein said controller is responsive to said command data signal to control one or more characteristics of said drive pulses selected from the set of characteristics including compliance voltage, pulse frequency, and pulse width.

66. The device of claim 64 further including:

a sensor coupled to said controller responsive to a static magnetic field; and

wherein

said controller is configured to modify the function of said device in response to a static magnetic field detected by said sensor.

67. The device of claim 64 further including a capacitor mounted in said housing for coupling said drive pulses to said at least one electrode.

68. A charger for providing an alternating magnetic field to one or more electrically-powered devices implanted via injection beneath the skin of a patient'"'"'s body wherein each of said electrically-powered devices is powered by a rechargeable battery mounted within each said device, said charger comprising:

a coil configured for mounting external to said patient'"'"'s body, proximate to one or more of said electrically-powered devices;

a controller for periodically providing an AC signal to energize said coil; and

wherein

said controller additionally includes communication circuitry for periodically providing a control signal to said electrically-powered devices to selectively interrogate the status of said rechargeable battery mounted within and for receiving a status signal in response thereto.

69. The charger of claim 68 wherein said communication circuitry is configured for amplitude modulating said AC signal with said control signal and receiving an AC signal amplitude modulated with said status signal in response thereto.

70. The charger of claim 68 additionally comprising:

a transducer capable of emitting a modulated output signal and receiving a modulated input signal; and

wherein

said communication circuitry is configured for modulating the output of said transducer with said control signal and receiving an input signal modulated with said status signal in response thereto.