Telemetry-based wake up of an implantable medical device

• US 20070049991A1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Rahman, Md., Klostermann, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry

Abstract

A method for telemetry between an implantable medical device and an external programming component is disclosed. The telemetry circuitry of the implantable device is initially powered on for only a portion of the time needed to receive the entirety of a wake-up signal from the external component. During that time, only a first portion of the wake-up signal as received form the external component is checked against the implantable device'"'"'s understanding of that first portion as stored in its memory. If the implantable device does not recognize the received first portion, powering on of the telemetry circuitry is terminated. However, if that first portion is recognized, then the implantable device continues to power on the telemetry circuitry to receive another (second) portion of the wake-up signal. If that received second portion is recognized, then the telemetry circuitry is further powered to receive a next (third) portion of the wake-up signal from the external component, etc., until the entirety of the wake-up signal is recognized by the implantable device as having been received.

Claims

1. A method for handling a wake-up signal at an implantable medical device, the wake-up signal being broadcast from an external component wishing to communicate with the implantable medical device, the wake-up signal comprising a plurality of sequential bits, the method comprising:

powering a receiving circuit in the implantable medical device which receives the wake-up signal;

receiving a first potion of the wake-up signal at the implantable medical device;

assessing the validity of the received first portion at the implantable medical device;

if the received first portion is assessed as valid, continuing to power the receiver circuit to receive at least a second portion of the wake-up signal at the implantable medical device; and

if the received first portion is assessed as not valid, powering off the receiver circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assessing the validity of the received second portion at the implantable medical device;

if the received second portion-is-assessed as valid, continuing to power the receiver circuit to receive at least a third portion of the wake-up signal at the implantable medical device; and

if the received second portion is assessed as not valid, powering off the receiver circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed periodically, and wherein the wake-up signal is broadcast by the external component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wake-up signal comprises a plurality of sequential bits of alternating logic states.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions of the wake-up signal comprise a plurality of the sequential bits.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are equal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving circuit comprises an antenna and demodulation circuitry.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving circuit in the implantable medical device receives the portions of the wake-up signal wirelessly from the external component.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the received second portion is at least one bit.

10. A method for handling a wake-up signal sent to a medical device implanted in a patient, the wake-up signal being broadcast from an external component external to the patient, the wake-up signal comprising a plurality of sequential bits, the method comprising:

periodically powering a receiving circuit in the implanted medical device which receives the wake-up signal;

receiving a first potion of the wake-up signal at the implanted medical device;

assessing the validity of the received first portion at the implanted medical-device;

if the received first portion is assessed as valid, continuing to power the receiver circuit to receive at least a second portion of the wake-up signal at the implanted medical device; and

if the received first portion is assessed as not valid, powering off the receiver circuit until the next period.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

assessing the validity of the received second portion at the implanted medical device;

if the received second portion is assessed as valid, continuing to power the receiver circuit to receive at least a third portion of the wake-up signal at the implanted medical device; and

if the received second portion is assessed as not valid, powering off the receiver circuit until the next period.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the wake-up signal is broadcast by the external component.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the wake-up signal comprises a plurality of sequential bits of alternating logic states.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second portions of the wake-up signal comprise a plurality of the sequential bits.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving circuit comprises an antenna and demodulation circuitry.

16. A method for controlling a medical device implanted in a patient, the wake-up signal being broadcast from an external component external to the patient, the wake-up signal comprising a plurality of sequential bits, the method comprising:

wirelessly broadcasting a wake-up signal from the external component;

periodically powering a receiving circuit in the implanted medical device to receive the wake-up signal;

receiving a first potion of the wake-up signal at the implanted medical device while the receiving circuit is powered, wherein the received first portion comprises a plurality of the sequential bits of the wake-up signal;

assessing the validity of the received first portion at the implanted medical device;

if the received first portion is assessed as valid, continuing to power the receiver circuit to receive at least a second portion of the wake-up signal at the implanted medical device, wherein the received second portion comprises a plurality of the sequential bits of the wake-up signal; and

if the received first portion is assessed as not valid, powering off the receiver circuit until the next period.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

assessing the validity of the received second portion at the implanted medical device;

if the received second portion is assessed as valid, continuing to power the receiver circuit to receive at least a third portion of the wake-up signal at the implanted medical device, wherein the received third portion comprises a plurality of the sequential bits of the wake-up signal; and

if the received second portion is assessed as not valid, powering off the receiver circuit until the next period.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the wake-up signal is broadcast by the external component.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the wake-up signal comprises a plurality of sequential bits of alternating logic states.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second portions are equivalent.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving circuit comprises an antenna and demodulation circuitry.