Implantable device and communication integrated circuit implementable therein

• US 20060113396A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Karr, Lawrence J., DeRocco, Paul, Gord, John C., Regev, Einan, Imani, Farid David
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• 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 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry

Abstract

An implantable device and a wireless communication integrated circuit (IC) implementable in the implantable device for communicating with a remote unit, wherein the communication IC is capable of self-initializing, namely initial booting without requiring an external general booting program to force the booting process. Moreover, the implantable device and the communication IC provide for checking of the validity and integrity of any program instructions received from the remote unit for the desired operation of the implantable device. The implantable device and the communication IC therein have power-saving capability in order to extend the operation of the implantable device between battery charges. A further embodiment provides a robust communication IC, whereby signal distortion or interference between the analog and digital components collectively residing on the same communication IC is minimized or eliminated.

Claims

1. A communication integrated circuit implementable in an electronic device, said communication integrated circuit comprising:

an RF transceiver for transceiving analog communication signals;

a capture buffer, communicating with the RF transceiver for predetermined periods of time, wherein the capture buffer receives digitized communication signals from the RF transceiver and stores the digitized communication signals therein;

a digital processing unit, coupled to the capture buffer, for processing the digitized communication signals, wherein the digital processing unit is adapted to stop operating, when said RF transceiver and said capture buffer are communicating, for the predetermined periods of time, and wherein said RF transceiver, said capture buffer and said digital processing unit collectively reside on said communication integrated circuit.

2. The communication integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising a frame timing unit coupled to the capture buffer and the digital processing unit wherein the frame timing unit synchronizes the operations of the capture buffer and the digital processing unit.

3. The communication integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein the digital processing unit comprises a communication controller and a general purpose controller.

4. An implantable device having a wireless communication integrated circuit, comprising:

an RF transceiver for transceiving analog communication signals;

a capture buffer, communicating with the RF transceiver for predetermined periods of time, wherein the capture buffer receives digitized communication signals from the RF transceiver and stores the digitized communication signals therein;

a digital processing unit, coupled to the capture buffer, for processing the digitized communication signals;

a power distribution unit, controlled by the digital processing unit, for providing power to electronic components on the communication integrated circuit, wherein the digital processing unit by controlling the power distribution unit selectively removes power from the electronic components when said electronic components are not performing operations, thereby reducing power consumption in the implantable device.

5. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein the digital processing unit stops operating when said RF transceiver and said capture buffer are communicating for the predetermined periods of time.

6. The implantable device of claim 5, wherein the digital processing unit comprises a communication controller and a general purpose controller.

7. The implantable device of claim 6, wherein the communication controller is programmed with a predetermined computer program for initializing and/or enabling the wireless communication operation of the implantable device.

8. The implantable device of claim 7, wherein the general purpose controller is adapted to receive computer program instructions from a remote unit for the operation of the implantable device.

9. A wireless implantable device having a communication integrated circuit, comprising:

an RF transceiver for transceiving analog communication signals;

a digital processing unit comprising;

a general purpose controller adapted to receive program instructions from a remote unit for the operation of the implantable device;

a communication controller wherein the communication controller is adapted for independently initializing and/or enabling the wireless communication operation of the implantable device with the remote unit.

10. The wireless implantable device of claim 9, wherein the general purpose controller includes a computer readable medium containing a computer program having a first executable code for checking the validity of the program instructions received from the remote unit.

11. The wireless implantable device of claim 10, wherein the first executable code for checking the validity of the program instructions received from the remote unit performs a cyclic redundancy check (CRC).

12. The wireless implantable device of claim 10, wherein the computer readable medium containing a computer program comprises a second executable code for checking the integrity of the program instructions received from the remote unit.

13. The wireless implantable device of claim 9, further comprising an internal ROM for providing parameters to the communication controller for independently initializing and/or enabling the wireless communication operation of the implantable device with the remote unit.