Methods and apparatus for tissue activation and monitoring
First Claim
1. A method for configuring one or more effectors situated within a satellite unit that resides in a subject'"'"'s body, wherein the satellite unit includes a number of effectors that interact with the subject'"'"'s body, and satellite circuitry that is coupled to a bus, and the bus includes first and second conduction paths with at least a portion the second conduction path being defined by the subject'"'"'s body when the satellite unit is located within the subject'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
- receiving signals over the bus; and
based on the signals received over the bus, deriving a relatively stable DC voltage for supplying the circuitry, recovering clock and digital data, interpreting bit sequences in the digital data to extract configuration information, and using the bit sequences to store configuration information for the one or more desired effectors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject'"'"'s body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.
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Citations
75 Claims
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1. A method for configuring one or more effectors situated within a satellite unit that resides in a subject'"'"'s body, wherein
the satellite unit includes a number of effectors that interact with the subject'"'"'s body, and satellite circuitry that is coupled to a bus, and the bus includes first and second conduction paths with at least a portion the second conduction path being defined by the subject'"'"'s body when the satellite unit is located within the subject'"'"'s body, the method comprising: -
receiving signals over the bus; and
based on the signals received over the bus, deriving a relatively stable DC voltage for supplying the circuitry, recovering clock and digital data, interpreting bit sequences in the digital data to extract configuration information, and using the bit sequences to store configuration information for the one or more desired effectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A medical apparatus comprising:
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a carrier unit configured for insertion into a subject'"'"'s body;
a bus having at least one conduction path, at least a part of which is insulated from the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is inserted into the subject'"'"'s body; and
a plurality of satellite units located along the carrier and connected to the bus, wherein each satellite unit includes one or more effectors that interact with the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is inserted into the subject'"'"'s body, and satellite circuitry that is coupled to the bus, wherein the satellite circuitry is structured to receive power over the bus, receive a bit sequence over the bus, and store information based on the bit sequence. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling one or more satellite units which reside along a carrier located in a subject'"'"'s body, wherein
each satellite unit includes a number of electrodes and circuitry that is coupled to a bus, and the bus includes first and second conduction paths with at least the first conduction path being insulated from the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is located within the subject'"'"'s body, the method comprising: -
supplying power to one or more of the satellite units over the bus;
transmitting a bit sequence over the bus; and
storing information in at least one satellite unit based on the bit sequence. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for configuring one or more effectors situated within a satellite unit that resides along a carrier located in a subject'"'"'s body, wherein
the satellite unit includes a number of effectors that interact with the subject'"'"'s body, and satellite circuitry that is coupled to a bus, and the bus includes first and second conduction paths with at least a portion the first conduction path being insulated from the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is located within the subject'"'"'s body, the method comprising: -
receiving signals over the bus; and
,based on the signals received over the bus, deriving a relatively stable DC voltage for supplying the circuitry, recovering clock and digital data, interpreting bit sequences in the digital data to extract address information, and at least for cases where the address information matches stored address information, using the bit sequences to configure one or more desired effectors to be coupled to the first or the second conduction paths of the bus. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An integrated circuit for use to configure electrodes in an implanted lead, the implanted lead being operatively coupled to a controller, the integrated circuit comprising:
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a first terminal;
a second terminal; and
circuitry coupled to the first and second terminals wherein, during a first time interval, during which digital configuration signals are provided from the controller on the first terminal, the circuitry selectively configures selected ones of the electrodes to the first terminal, and wherein, during a second time interval, the controller administers electrical signals through the configured electrodes by way of the first terminal. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A medical apparatus for interacting with a body, the apparatus comprising:
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a controller-power source with at least a first electrode contacting the body;
a satellite unit for placement within the body, said satellite unit including satellite circuitry connected to at least a second electrode, said second electrode being in electrical contact with the body; and
a single conductor between said controller-power source and said satellite unit, wherein data and power current flow from said controller-power source through said single conductor to said satellite unit, through said second electrode, through the body, through said first electrode, and to said controller-power source. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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Specification