System and apparatus for controlled activation of acute use medical devices

• US 20060190060A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Greeninger, Daniel R., Larik, Vincent, Thompson, David L., Rogier, Receveur, Dinsmoor, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An integrated activation system for an implantable medical device (IMD) sharing a power source, the activation system comprising a switching circuit having first and second inputs and having an output coupled to the acute use device, a gating element coupled to the first input and configured to gate power from the power source to the switching circuit, and a sensing element coupled to the second input of the switching circuit. The sensing element is configured to sense an activation condition, enable an operation interval of the switching circuit, and transmit a signal to the switching circuit during the activation condition. The switching circuit is configured to transmit power to the acute use device upon receipt of a pre-determined number of signals from the sensing element.

Claims

1. An integrated activation system for an acute use device sharing a power source, the activation system comprising:

a switching circuit having first and second inputs and having an output coupled to the acute use device;

a gating element coupled to said first input and configured to gate power from the power source to said switching circuit; and

a sensing element coupled to said second input of said switching circuit, said sensing element configured to;

sense an activation condition;

enable an operation interval of said switching circuit; and

transmit a signal to said switching circuit during said activation condition, said switching circuit configured to transmit power to said acute use device upon receipt of a pre-determined number of signals from said sensing element.

2. An activation system according to claim 1, wherein said activation condition comprises a pre-determined Radio Frequency (RF) signal.

3. An activation system according to claim 1, wherein said activation condition comprises a pre-determined magnetic field change.

4. An activation system according to claim 1, wherein said sensing element is selected from a micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) reed switch, a thermal bimorph, and a photosensor.

5. An activation system according to claim 1, wherein said switching circuit comprises:

a counter sub-circuit configured to count sensing element activations; and

a timing sub-circuit configured to establish said operation interval; and

wherein said switching circuit is configured to pass current from said gating element to the acute use device when said counter sub-circuit counts a pre-determined number of said signals within said operation interval.

6. An activation system according to claim 1, wherein said gating element is selected from a transistor and a discrete electronic device.

7. An acute use medical device comprising:

a power source;

a therapy unit;

a switching circuit having first and second inputs and having an output coupled to said therapy unit;

a gating element having an input coupled to said power source and an output coupled to said first input of said switching circuit, said gating element configured to gate power to said switching circuit; and

a sensing element coupled to said second input of said switching circuit, said sensing element configured to;

change from a first state to a second state indicating an activation condition of the acute use medical device;

enable an operation interval of said switching circuit; and

transmit a signal to said switching circuit during said second state, said switching circuit further configured to transmit power to said therapy unit upon receipt of a pre-determined number of said signals from said sensing element.

8. An acute use medical device according to claim 7, wherein said sensing element is further configured to change from said first state to said second state upon a magnetic field change.

9. An acute use medical device according to claim 7, wherein said sensing element is further configured to change from said first state to said second state upon receipt of a Radio Frequency (RF) signal.

10. An acute use medical device according to claim 7, wherein said therapy unit is a miniature camera.

11. An acute use medical device according to claim 7, wherein said therapy unit is a stimulator.

12. An acute use medical device according to claim 11, wherein said therapy unit is a sensor.

13. An acute use medical device according to claim 7, wherein said sensing element is selected from a micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) reed switch, a thermal bimorph, and a photosensor.

14. An acute use medical device according to claim 7, wherein said switching circuit comprises:

a counter sub-circuit configured to count sensing element activations; and

a timing sub-circuit configured to establish said operation interval.

15. An acute use medical device according to claim 14, wherein said counter sub-circuit comprises at least one latch device and at least one T flip-flop device.

16. An acute use medical device according to claim 7, wherein said sensing element is further configured to draw zero current from said power source during said first state.

17. An acute use medical device according to claim 17, wherein said pre-determined condition is selected from a pre-determined time interval, a pH value, and a power source voltage.

18. An integrated activation system for an acute use device sharing a power source, the activation system comprising:

a switching circuit having a first input coupled to the power source and an output coupled to said therapy unit and having a second input;

a gating element having first and second inputs and an output, said first input of said gating element coupled to said power source, said output of said gating element coupled to said first input of said switching circuit, said gating element configured to gate power to said switching circuit during a first state; and

a sensing element coupled to said second input of said switching circuit and said second input of said gating element and configured to;

detect a first signal indicating an activation condition;

enable an operation interval of said switching circuit; and

transmit a second signal to said switching circuit upon detecting said first signal, said switching circuit configured to transmit power received from said gating element to said therapy unit upon receipt of a predetermined number of said second signals.

19. An integrated activation system according to claim 18, wherein said activation condition is a pre-determined RF signal having an RF code, and wherein said sensing element is further configured to switch said gating element to said first state upon detecting said RF code, said pre-determined RF signal powering said sensing element and said gating element.

20. An integrated activation system according to claim 18, wherein said activation condition is a pre-determined RF signal, wherein said pre-determined RF signal powers said sensing element and said gating element, and wherein said gating element is further configured to switch to said first state upon detecting a signal having a pre-determined magnetic field.