Cross-band communications in an implantable device

• US 20070162089A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Data Sciences U K Limited (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Transoma Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Mosesov, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US11/328,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162089A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide cross-band communications with an implantable medical device. In one embodiment, an implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient comprises one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient; sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors; a receiver configured to receive information from the external device in a first frequency band; a transmitter configured to sending information to an external device using a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band; and a power supply. The receiver is powered on continuously when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient, the implantable medical device comprising:

one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient;

sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors;

a receiver configured to receive information from the external device in a first frequency band;

a transmitter configured to sending information to an external device using a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band; and

a power supply;

wherein the receiver is powered on continuously when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the receiver is an ultra-low power receiver.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the ultra-low power receiver uses a current of about 3 microamps or less.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein a receiving range of the receiver is at least about 2 meters.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors comprise ECG sensors.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the second frequency band is higher than the first frequency band.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the first frequency band is an RFID frequency in the range of about 125 to about 134 kHz.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the second frequency band is a MICS band in the range of 402-405 MHz.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the second frequency band is in the range of about 902 to about 928 MHz.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the information received by the receiver from the external device comprises a selection of a frequency in a MICS band for the transmitter to send information to the external device.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the receiver and transmitter are integrated as a transceiver.

12. A method for communicating with an implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient, which includes one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient and sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors, the method comprising:

receiving a first communication from an external device by a receiver in the implantable medical device within a first frequency band;

sending a second communication from the implantable medical device to the external device within a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band; and

providing a power supply in the implantable medical device,

wherein the receiver is powered on continuously when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first communication is received by a receiver in the implantable medical device, the receiving being an ultra-low power receiver.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the ultra-low power receiver uses a current of about 3 microamps or less.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a receiving range of the receiver is at least about 2 meters.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising sensing ECG signals in the body of the patient.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the second frequency band is higher than the first frequency band.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the first frequency band is an RFID frequency in the range of about 125 to about 134 kHz.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the second frequency band is a MICS band in the range of 402-405 MHz.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the second frequency band is in the range of about 902 to about 928 MHz.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the information received by the receiver from the external device comprises a selection of a frequency in a MICS band for the transmitter to send information to the external device.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the implantable medical device includes a transceiver to receive the first communication and send the second communication.

23. An implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient, the implantable medical device comprising:

one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient;

sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors;

a receiver configured to receive information from the external device in a first frequency band;

a transmitter configured to sending information to an external device using a second frequency band; and

a power supply;

wherein the receiver is powered on continuously when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient; and

wherein the first frequency band is lower than about 1 MHz.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the first frequency band is an RFID frequency in the range of about 125 and about 134 kHz.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein the second frequency band is higher than the first frequency band.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the second frequency band is higher than about 200 MHz.