Communication module and method of operation thereof

• US 20060052843A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biotronik SE & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG (Biotronik SE & Company KG)
• Inventors: Merlin, Julian, Lang, Martin, Elsner, Joachim, Gromotka, Bernhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• 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: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A method of making a wireless communication connection between a patient device and an electromedical implant as communication partners is disclosed, wherein a transmitting unit of the patient device is continually switched on and off, so that the transmitting unit is alternately in an activity phase and an activity pause and during its activity pause at least once sends a recognition signal and wherein a receiving unit of the electromedical implant is continually switched on and off so that the receiving unit is alternately in an activity phase and an activity pause and during its activity phase checks whether the transmitting unit is just then in its activity phase and sends a recognition signal, wherein switching on and off of the receiving unit is so effected that an activity phase and an activity pause of the receiving unit together give an overall duration which differs from the overall duration of an activity phase and an activity pause of the transmitting unit so that within a foreseeable period of time the activity phases of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit overlap and a wireless communication connection between the two communication partners occurs.

Claims

1. A method of making a wireless communication connection between a patient device and an electromedical implant as communication partners,

wherein a first transmitting unit of the patient device is continually switched on and off so that the first transmitting unit is alternately in an activity phase and an activity pause and at least once sends a recognition signal during its activity phase,

and wherein a first receiving unit of the electromedical implant is continually switched on and off so that the first receiving unit is alternately in an activity phase and an activity pause and during its activity phase checks whether the first transmitting unit is just in its activity phase and sends a recognition signal,

and wherein the durations of the activity phases are shorter than the durations of the activity pauses of the first transmitting or receiving unit respectively of the respective other communication partner,

said method comprising:

switching on and off the first receiving unit such that an activity phase and an activity pause of the first receiving unit together afford an overall duration which differs from the overall duration of an activity phase and an activity pause of the first transmitting unit such that, within a foreseeable period of time, the activity phases of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit overlap and a wireless communication connection between the two communication partners occurs.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the switching on and off of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit occur in such a way that the respective duration of an activity phase of the first transmitting unit and an activity phase of the first receiving unit are of equal lengths.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the switching on and off of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit occur in such a way that the overall duration of an activity phase and an activity pause of the first transmitting unit differs from the overall duration of an activity phase and an activity pause of the first receiving unit by the duration of an activity phase of the first receiving unit or the first transmitting unit.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the duration of the activity pause of the first receiving unit is greater than the duration of the activity pause of the first transmitting unit.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the switching on and off of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit occur in such a way that the quotient of the respective overall duration of an activity pause and an activity phase divided by the duration of an activity phase for the one communication partner is not calculated as an integral multiple of the corresponding quotient of the other communication partner.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein during the activity phase of the first transmitting unit the patient device transmits the moment of the beginning of the next activity phase of the first transmitting unit, wherein that moment is specified as a difference in relation to the moment of such transmission.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the electromedical implant switches off the first receiving unit after the reception of a signal communicating the moment of the beginning of the next activity phase of the first transmitting unit and switches the first receiving unit on again at the communicated moment of the beginning of the next activity phase of the first transmitting unit.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the electromedical implant adapts the duration of the activity phase and pause of the first receiving unit to the duration of the activity phase and pause of the first transmitting unit in the case of temporal overlap of the activity phases of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the electromedical implant reduces or lengthens the duration of the activity pause of the first receiving unit after adaptation to the duration of the activity phase and pause of the first transmitting unit has been effected if, during an activity phase of the first receiving unit, no recognition signal transmitted by the patient device was received.

10. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the electromedical implant sends an acknowledgement signal by way of a second transmitting unit if the activity phases of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit are overlapped and the first receiving unit has received the recognition signal of the first transmitting unit.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the patient device adapts the duration of the activity phase and pause of the first transmitting unit to the duration of the activity phase and pause of the first receiving unit in the case of reception of an acknowledgement signal transmitted by the electromedical implant, by way of a second receiving unit.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the patient device reduces or lengthens the duration of the activity pause of the first transmitting unit after adaptation to the duration of the activity phase and pause of the first receiving unit has been effected if, during an activity phase of the first transmitting unit, no acknowledgement signal transmitted by the electromedical implant was received, by way of the second receiving unit.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the switching on and off of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit occur in such a way that the overall duration of an activity phase and an activity pause of the first transmitting unit differs from the overall duration of an activity phase and an activity pause of the first receiving unit by the duration of an activity phase of the first receiving unit or the first transmitting unit.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the duration of the activity pause of the first receiving unit is greater than the duration of the activity pause of the first transmitting unit.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the switching on and off of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit occur in such a way that the quotient of the respective overall duration of an activity pause and an activity phase divided by the duration of an activity phase for the one communication partner is not calculated as an integral multiple of the corresponding quotient of the other communication partner.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein during the activity phase of the first transmitting unit the patient device transmits the moment of the beginning of the next activity phase of the first transmitting unit, wherein that moment is specified as a difference in relation to the moment of such transmission.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electromedical implant adapts the duration of the activity phase and pause of the first receiving unit to the duration of the activity phase and pause of the first transmitting unit in the case of temporal overlap of the activity phases of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit.

18. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electromedical implant sends an acknowledgement signal by way of a second transmitting unit if the activity phases of the first transmitting unit and the first receiving unit are overlapped and the first receiving unit has received the recognition signal of the first transmitting unit.

19. An electromedical implant comprising a first receiving unit and a first control unit which is connected to a first timer and which is adapted in periodically alternating relationship to switch off the first receiving unit after the elapse of a first period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and measured by the first timer and to switch on the first receiving unit after the subsequent elapse of a second period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and measured by the first timer, and wherein the first control unit is adapted, after the reception of a recognition signal by the first receiving unit, to switch off the first receiving unit in periodically alternating relationship after the elapse of the first period of time and to switch on the first receiving unit after the subsequent elapse of a third period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and which is different from the second period of time and which is measured by the first timer.

20. The electromedical implant as set forth in claim 19 wherein the first control unit is adapted, after the reception of a recognition signal by the first receiving unit, to switch off the first receiving unit only after the elapse of a fourth period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and measured by the first timer, wherein the fourth period of time as measured from the moment of last switching on is longer than the first period of time.

21. The electromedical implant as set forth in claim 20 wherein the first control unit is adapted, after reception of a recognition signal communicating the duration of a fifth period of time, to switch on the first receiving unit after the elapse, measured by the timer, of said fifth period of time.

22. The electromedical implant as set forth in claim 21 wherein the first control unit is adapted, after reception of a recognition signal communicating the duration of a fifth period of time, to switch off the first receiving unit until the elapse, measured by the first timer, of said fifth period of time, and then in periodically alternating relationship to switch off the first receiving unit after the elapse of the first period of time and switch on the first receiving unit after the subsequent elapse of the third period of time.

23. The electromedical implant as set forth in claim 22 wherein the electromedical implant has a second transmitting unit, and the electromedical implant is adapted to send an acknowledgement signal by way of a second transmitting unit if the electromedical implant has received a recognition signal by way of the first receiving unit.

24. The electromedical implant as set forth in claim 21 wherein the electromedical implant is a cardiac pacemaker or a defibrillator.

25. The electromedical implant as set forth in claim 19 wherein the first control unit is adapted, after reception of a recognition signal communicating the duration of a fifth period of time, to switch on the first receiving unit after the elapse, measured by the timer, of said fifth period of time.

26. The electromedical implant as set forth in claim 19 wherein the electromedical implant has a second transmitting unit, and the electromedical implant is adapted to send an acknowledgement signal by way of a second transmitting unit if the electromedical implant has received a recognition signal by way of the first receiving unit.

27. The electromedical implant as set forth in claim 19 wherein the electromedical implant is a cardiac pacemaker or a defibrillator.

28. A system, said system comprising:

a patient device; and

an electromedical implant, wherein said electromedical implant comprises a first receiving unit and a first control unit which is connected to a first timer and which is adapted in periodically alternating relationship to switch off the first receiving unit after the elapse of a first period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and measured by the first timer and to switch on the first receiving unit after the subsequent elapse of a second period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and measured by the first timer, and wherein the first control unit is adapted, after the reception of a recognition signal by the first receiving unit, to switch off the first receiving unit in periodically alternating relationship after the elapse of the first period of time and to switch on the first receiving unit after the subsequent elapse of a third period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and which is different from the second period of time and which is measured by the first timer.

29. A system comprising:

a patient device; and

an electromedical implant, wherein said electromedical implant comprises a first receiving unit and a first control unit which is connected to a first timer and which is adapted in periodically alternating relationship to switch off the first receiving unit after the elapse of a first period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and measured by the first timer and to switch on the first receiving unit after the subsequent elapse of a second period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and measured by the first timer, and wherein the first control unit is adapted, after the reception of a recognition signal by the first receiving unit, to switch off the first receiving unit in periodically alternating relationship after the elapse of the first period of time and to switch on the first receiving unit after the subsequent elapse of a third period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and which is different from the second period of time and which is measured by the first timer, and

wherein the first control unit is adapted, after the reception of a recognition signal by the first receiving unit, to switch off the first receiving unit only after the elapse of a fourth period of time which is predetermined by the first control unit and measured by the first timer, wherein the fourth period of time as measured from the moment of last switching on is longer than the first period of time, and

wherein the first control unit is adapted, after reception of a recognition signal communicating the duration of a fifth period of time, to switch on the first receiving unit after the elapse, measured by the timer, of said fifth period of time, and

wherein the electromedical implant is a cardiac pacemaker or a defibrillator.

30. A patient device comprising a first transmitting unit for transmission in a transmission channel, a second receiving unit and a second control unit which is connected to a second timer and which is adapted to switch off the first transmitting unit after the elapse of a sixth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and measured by the second timer and to switch on the first transmitting unit after the subsequent elapse of a seventh period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and measured by the second timer, in periodically alternating relationship, and wherein

the second control unit is adapted, after the reception of an acknowledgement signal by the second receiving unit, to switch off the first transmitting unit after the elapse of the sixth period of time and to switch on the first transmitting unit after the subsequent elapse of an eighth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and which differs from the seventh period of time and is measured by the second timer, in periodically alternating relationship.

31. The patient device as set forth in claim 30 wherein the patient device is adapted to check the transmission channel by way of the second receiving unit for transmission activity in respect of other communication devices, within a ninth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and is measured by the second timer and the beginning of which is within the seventh or eighth period of time.

32. The patient device as set forth in claim 31 wherein the patient device is adapted to switch on the first transmitting unit after the elapse of the seventh or eighth period of time only when no transmission activity in respect of other communication devices in the transmission channel was found within the ninth period of time.

33. The patient device as set forth in claim 32 wherein the patient device is adapted in each case once after the elapse of a seventh or eighth period of time in which the patient device has not switched off the first transmitting unit because of transmission activity in respect of other communication devices in the transmission channel, in directly subsequent relationship to allow the elapse of a tenth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and measured by the second timer and to leave the first transmitting unit switched off during the tenth period of time.

34. The patient device as set forth in claim 33 wherein the second control unit is adapted, after the reception of an acknowledgement signal by the second receiving unit, to switch off the first transmitting unit only after the elapse of an eleventh period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and is measured by the second timer, wherein the eleventh period of time as measured from the moment of last switch-on is longer than the sixth period of time.

35. The patient device as set forth in claim 34 wherein the patient device has a third transmitting unit and a third receiving unit for communication by way of a wireless data network or a telephone network and is adapted to further communicate the data received by a second receiving unit by way of the third transmitting unit.

37. The patient device as set forth in claim 30 wherein the second control unit is adapted, after the reception of an acknowledgement signal by the second receiving unit, to switch off the first transmitting unit only after the elapse of an eleventh period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and is measured by the second timer, wherein the eleventh period of time as measured from the moment of last switch-on is longer than the sixth period of time.

38. The patient device as set forth in claim 30 wherein the patient device has a third transmitting unit and a third receiving unit for communication by way of a wireless data network or a telephone network and is adapted to further communicate the data received by a second receiving unit by way of the third transmitting unit.

36. A system, said system comprising:

an electromedical implant, in particular a cardiac pacemaker; and

a patient device, wherein said patient device comprises a first transmitting unit for transmission in a transmission channel, a second receiving unit and a second control unit which is connected to a second timer and which is adapted to switch off the first transmitting unit after the elapse of a sixth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and measured by the second timer and to switch on the first transmitting unit after the subsequent elapse of a seventh period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and measured by the second timer, in periodically alternating relationship, and wherein

the second control unit is adapted, after the reception of an acknowledgement signal by the second receiving unit, to switch off the first transmitting unit after the elapse of the sixth period of time and to switch on the first transmitting unit after the subsequent elapse of an eighth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and which differs from the seventh period of time and is measured by the second timer, in periodically alternating relationship, and

wherein the patient device is adapted to check the transmission channel by way of the second receiving unit for transmission activity in respect of other communication devices, within a ninth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and is measured by the second timer and the beginning of which is within the seventh or eighth period of time, and

wherein the patient device is adapted to switch on the first transmitting unit after the elapse of the seventh or eighth period of time only when no transmission activity in respect of other communication devices in the transmission channel was found within the ninth period of time, and

wherein the patient device is adapted in each case once after the elapse of a seventh or eighth period of time in which the patient device has not switched off the first transmitting unit because of transmission activity in respect of other communication devices in the transmission channel, in directly subsequent relationship to allow the elapse of a tenth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and measured by the second timer and to leave the first transmitting unit switched off during the tenth period of time, and

wherein the second control unit is adapted, after the reception of an acknowledgement signal by the second receiving unit, to switch off the first transmitting unit only after the elapse of an eleventh period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and is measured by the second timer, wherein the eleventh period of time as measured from the moment of last switch-on is longer than the sixth period of time, and

wherein the patient device has a third transmitting unit and a third receiving unit for communication by way of a wireless data network or a telephone network and is adapted to further communicate the data received by a second receiving unit by way of the third transmitting unit.

39. A system, said system comprising:

an electromedical implant, in particular a cardiac pacemaker; and

a patient device, wherein said patient device comprises a first transmitting unit for transmission in a transmission channel, a second receiving unit and a second control unit which is connected to a second timer and which is adapted to switch off the first transmitting unit after the elapse of a sixth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and measured by the second timer and to switch on the first transmitting unit after the subsequent elapse of a seventh period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and measured by the second timer, in periodically alternating relationship, and wherein

the second control unit is adapted, after the reception of an acknowledgement signal by the second receiving unit, to switch off the first transmitting unit after the elapse of the sixth period of time and to switch on the first transmitting unit after the subsequent elapse of an eighth period of time which is predetermined by the second control unit and which differs from the seventh period of time and is measured by the second timer, in periodically alternating relationship.