Wireless communication system for transmitting information from a medical device

• US 20060136013A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sherman, Jason T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,384,403 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 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer

Abstract

A medical device communication system may comprise a medical device and a wireless communication circuit mounted to the medical device. The wireless communication circuit is configured to broadcast information relating to the medical device. The medical device may be one of a surgical tool and an implant configured for subcutaneous implantation in a living biological body

Claims

1. A medical device communication system comprising:

a medical device being either of a surgical tool and an implant configured for subcutaneous implantation in a living biological body, and

a wireless communication circuit mounted to the medical device and configured to broadcast information relating to the medical device.

2. The medical device communication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a memory unit having stored therein the information relating to the medical device.

3. The medical device communication system of claim 2 wherein the memory unit has stored therein program code for controlling operation of the wireless communication circuit.

4. The medical device communication system of claim 2 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a transceiver electrically connected to the memory unit, the transceiver configured to broadcast the information relating to the medical device.

5. The medical device communication system of claim 4 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an antenna electrically connected to the transceiver, the transceiver broadcasting the information relating to the medical device via the antenna.

6. The medical device communication system of claim 5 further including a circuit substrate mounted to the medical device, the circuit substrate having the transceiver, memory unit and antenna mounted thereto.

7. The medical device communication system of claim 5 further including a circuit substrate mounted to the medical device, the circuit substrate having the transceiver and memory unit mounted thereto,

wherein the antenna is mounted to the medical device remote from the circuit substrate.

8. The medical device communication system of claim 4 further including a secondary coil circuit configured to inductively couple to an activated primary coil to produce a DC voltage, the DC voltage produced by the secondary coil circuit providing a supply voltage to the memory unit and to the transceiver.

9. The medical device communication system of claim 4 further including:

a secondary coil circuit configured to inductively couple to an activated primary coil to produce a DC voltage, and

a rechargeable voltage source providing a supply voltage to the memory unit and to the transceiver,

wherein the DC voltage produced by the secondary coil circuit provides a recharging voltage to recharge the rechargeable voltage source.

10. The medical device communication system of claim 1 further including a sensor producing a sensor signal indicative of a physical property of the medical device,

wherein the information relating to the medical device corresponds to the sensor signal.

11. The medical device communication system of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a transceiver electrically connected to the sensor, the transceiver configured to broadcast the information relating to the medical device.

12. The medical device communication system of claim 11 further including a circuit substrate having the transceiver and the sensor mounted thereto, the circuit substrate mounted to the medical device.

13. The medical device communication system of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an antenna electrically connected to the transceiver and mounted to the circuit substrate, the transceiver broadcasting the information relating to the medical device via the antenna.

14. The medical device communication system of claim 13 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a memory unit electrically connected to the transceiver and mounted to the circuit substrate, the memory unit having stored therein program code for controlling operation of the wireless communication circuit.

15. The medical device communication system of claim 14 wherein the memory unit includes a plurality of memory locations for storing information produced by the sensor.

16. The medical device communication system of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an antenna electrically connected to the transceiver and mounted to the medical device remote from the circuit substrate, the transceiver broadcasting the information relating to the medical device via the antenna.

17. The medical device communication system of claim 16 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a memory unit electrically connected to the transceiver and mounted to the circuit substrate, the memory unit having stored therein program code for controlling operation of the wireless communication circuit.

18. The medical device communication system of claim 17 wherein the memory unit includes a plurality of memory locations for storing information produced by the sensor.

19. The medical device communication system of claim 11 further including a circuit substrate mounted to the medical device, the circuit substrate having the transceiver mounted thereto, wherein the sensor is mounted to the medical device remote from the circuit substrate.

20. The medical device communication system of claim 19 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an antenna electrically connected to the transceiver and mounted to the circuit substrate, the transceiver broadcasting the information relating to the medical device via the antenna.

21. The medical device communication system of claim 20 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a memory unit electrically connected to the transceiver and mounted to the circuit substrate, the memory unit having stored therein program code for controlling operation of the wireless communication circuit.

22. The medical device communication system of claim 21 wherein the memory unit includes a plurality of memory locations for storing information produced by the sensor.

23. The medical device communication system of claim 19 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an antenna electrically connected to the transceiver and mounted to the medical device remote from the circuit substrate, the transceiver broadcasting the information relating to the medical device via the antenna.

24. The medical device communication system of claim 23 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a memory unit electrically connected to the transceiver and mounted to the circuit substrate, the memory unit having stored therein program code for controlling operation of the wireless communication circuit.

25. The medical device communication system of claim 24 wherein the memory unit includes a plurality of memory locations for storing information produced by the sensor.

26. The medical device communication system of claim 11 further including a secondary coil circuit configured to inductively couple to an activated primary coil to produce a DC voltage, the DC voltage produced by the secondary coil circuit providing a supply voltage to the transceiver.

27. The medical device communication system of claim 11 further including:

a secondary coil circuit configured to inductively couple to an activated primary coil to produce a DC voltage, and

a rechargeable voltage source providing a supply voltage to the transceiver,

wherein the DC voltage produced by the secondary coil circuit provides a recharging voltage to recharge the rechargeable voltage source.

28. A medical implant communication system comprising:

a medical implant subcutaneously implanted in a living biological body, and

a wireless communication circuit mounted to the medical implant and configured to broadcast information relating to the medical implant outside of the living biological body.

29. The medical implant communication system of claim 28 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a memory unit having stored therein the information relating to the medical implant.

30. The medical implant communication system of claim 29 wherein the memory unit has stored therein program code for controlling operation of the wireless communication circuit.

31. The medical implant communication system of claim 29 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a transceiver electrically connected to the memory unit, the transceiver configured to broadcast the information relating to the medical implant.

32. The medical implant communication system of claim 31 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an antenna electrically connected to the transceiver, the transceiver broadcasting the information relating to the medical implant via the antenna.

33. The medical implant communication system of claim 31 further including a secondary coil circuit configured to inductively couple to an primary coil circuit to produce a DC voltage, the DC voltage produced by the secondary coil circuit providing a supply voltage to the memory unit and to the transceiver.

34. The medical implant communication system of claim 33 wherein the primary coil circuit is positioned outside of the biological body, the primary coil circuit including a primary coil configured to inductively couple to a secondary coil included within the secondary coil circuit.

35. The medical implant communication system of claim 34 wherein the primary coil circuit includes an excitation source electrically connected to the primary coil, the excitation source producing an AC excitation signal at a frequency selected to ensure inductive coupling between the primary and secondary coils.

36. The medical implant communication system of claim 35 wherein the biological body includes a limb having the medical implant implanted therein, and further including a cuff carrying the primary coil, the cuff extending at least partially about the limb with the primary coil positioned adjacent to the secondary coil.

37. The medical device communication system of claim 31 further including:

a secondary coil circuit configured to magnetically couple to a primary coil circuit to produce a DC voltage, and

a rechargeable voltage source providing a supply voltage to the memory unit and to the transceiver,

wherein the DC voltage produced by the secondary coil circuit provides a recharging voltage to recharge the rechargeable voltage source.

38. The medical implant communication system of claim 37 wherein the primary coil circuit is positioned outside of the biological body, the primary coil circuit including a primary coil configured to inductively couple to a secondary coil included within the secondary coil circuit.

39. The medical implant communication system of claim 38 wherein the primary coil circuit includes an excitation source electrically connected to the primary coil, the excitation source producing an AC excitation signal at a frequency selected to ensure inductive coupling between the primary and secondary coils.

40. The medical implant communication system of claim 39 wherein the biological body includes a limb having the medical implant implanted therein, and further including a cuff carrying the primary coil, the cuff extending at least partially about the limb with the magnetic field generator positioned adjacent to the secondary coil.

41. The medical implant communication system of claim 28 further including a sensor producing a sensor signal indicative of a physical property of the medical implant,

wherein the information relating to the medical implant corresponds to the sensor signal.

42. The medical implant communication system of claim 41 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a transceiver electrically connected to the sensor, the transceiver configured to broadcast the information relating to the medical implant.

43. The medical implant communication system of claim 42 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes an antenna electrically connected to the transceiver, the transceiver broadcasting the information relating to the medical implant via the antenna.

44. The medical implant communication system of claim 43 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a memory unit electrically connected to the transceiver, the memory unit having stored therein program code for controlling operation of the wireless communication circuit.

45. The medical implant communication system of claim 44 wherein the memory unit includes a plurality of memory locations for storing information produced by the sensor.

46. The medical implant communication system of claim 42 further including a secondary coil circuit configured to couple to a primary coil circuit to produce a DC voltage, the DC voltage produced by the secondary coil circuit providing a supply voltage to the sensor and to the transceiver.

47. The medical implant communication system of claim 46 wherein the primary coil circuit is positioned outside of the biological body, the primary coil circuit including a primary coil configured to inductively couple to a secondary coil included within the secondary coil circuit.

48. The medical implant communication system of claim 47 wherein the primary coil circuit includes an excitation source electrically connected to the primary coil, the excitation source producing an AC excitation signal at a frequency selected to ensure inductive coupling between the primary and secondary coils.

49. The medical implant communication system of claim 48 wherein the biological body includes a limb having the medical implant implanted therein, and further including a cuff carrying the primary coil, the cuff extending at least partially about the limb with the primary coil positioned adjacent to the secondary coil.

50. The medical implant communication system of claim 42 further including:

a secondary coil circuit configured to inductively couple to a primary coil circuit to produce a DC voltage, and

a rechargeable voltage source providing a supply voltage to the memory unit and to the transceiver,

wherein the DC voltage produced by the secondary coil circuit provides a recharging voltage to recharge the rechargeable voltage source.

51. The medical implant communication system of claim 50 wherein the primary coil circuit is positioned outside of the biological body, the primary coil circuit including a primary coil configured to inductively couple to a secondary coil included within the secondary coil circuit.

52. The medical implant communication system of claim 51 wherein the primary coil circuit includes an excitation source electrically connected to the primary coil, the excitation source producing an AC excitation signal at a frequency selected to ensure inductive coupling between the primary and secondary coils.

53. The medical implant communication system of claim 52 wherein the biological body includes a limb having the medical implant implanted therein, and further including a cuff carrying the primary coil, the cuff extending at least partially about the limb with the primary coil positioned adjacent to the secondary coil.

54. A wireless communication circuit mountable to a medical device, the wireless communication circuit comprising:

a memory unit having stored therein information relating to the medical device,

an antenna, and

a transceiver electrically connected to the memory unit and to the antenna, the transceiver configured to retrieve the information relating to the medical device from the memory unit and to broadcast the information relating to the medical device via the antenna.

55. A wireless communication circuit mountable to a medical device, the wireless communication circuit comprising:

a sensor configured to produce a sensor signal indicative of a physical property of the medical device,

an antenna, and

a transceiver electrically connected to the sensor and to the antenna, the transceiver configured to receive the sensor signal and to broadcast a corresponding communication signal via the antenna that is indicative of the physical property of the medical device.

56. The wireless communication circuit of claim 55 further including a memory unit electrically connected to the transceiver, the memory unit having stored therein program code for controlling operation of the wireless communication circuit.

57. The wireless communication circuit of claim 55 further including a memory unit electrically connected to the transceiver, the transceiver configured to store a value in the memory unit that is indicative of the physical property of the medical device.

58. The wireless communication circuit of claim 55 further including a memory unit electrically connected to the transceiver, the transceiver configured to store values in the memory unit that are indicative of the physical property of the medical device over time.