RADIO FREQUENCY TRANSPONDER BASED IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL SYSTEM

• US 20080183247A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Harding, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0573 chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3684 for stimulating the heart at multiple sites of the ventricle or the atrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

An implantable medical device (IMD) system includes an IMD, a transceiver antenna lead for the IMD, and a wireless therapy delivery transponder or probe that is remotely activated by the IMD via the transceiver antenna lead. The IMD and the wireless probe communicate using wireless RF-based transponder techniques. The wireless probe includes a capacitor that is charged when the IMD emits an appropriate electromagnetic field from the transceiver antenna lead. The wireless probe delivers electrical therapy in the form of electrical pulses from the capacitor in response to RF activation signals emitted by the IMD via the transceiver antenna lead.

Claims

1. An implantable medical system comprising:

an implantable medical device (IMD);

a transceiver antenna lead including;

a first end configured for coupling to the IMD;

a second end; and

a radio frequency (RF) lead antenna proximate the second end; and

a wireless semi-passive RF probe including an electrode arrangement configured to establish electrical contact with body tissue/fluid, a capacitor coupled to the electrode arrangement, an RF probe antenna, and a processing architecture coupled to the RF probe antenna;

wherein the IMD is configured to control activation of the RF probe by transmitting an activation signal to the RF probe antenna via the RF lead antenna.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the IMD is configured to energize the capacitor by transmitting a charge signal from the RF lead antenna to the RF probe antenna.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the wireless semi-passive RF probe has a probe identifier that is unique throughout at least the system; and

the wireless semi-passive RF probe is configured to disregard activation signals that do not convey the probe identifier.

4. A system according to claim 1, the transceiver antenna lead further comprising a fixation member configured to attach the second end of the transceiver antenna lead to body tissue.

5. A system according to claim 1, the transceiver antenna lead further comprising a fixation member configured to attach the RF lead antenna to body tissue.

6. A system according to claim 1, the transceiver antenna lead being sized and configured for vascular insertion and routing.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the RF lead antenna comprises a stent.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the RF lead antenna is configured to emit RF energy in a focused direction.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the electrode arrangement of the wireless semi-passive RF probe is configured to detect electromagnetic activity conducted by the body tissue/fluid;

the wireless semi-passive RF probe is configured to generate a sensor signal that conveys electromagnetic activity detected by the electrode arrangement; and

the wireless semi-passive RF probe is configured to transmit the sensor signal from the RF probe antenna to the RF lead antenna.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing architecture of the wireless semi-passive RF probe is programmed to respond to a sense command conveyed in the activation signal, the sense command instructing the wireless semi-passive RF probe to detect electromagnetic activity conducted by the body tissue/fluid.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing architecture of the wireless semi-passive RF probe is programmed to respond to a pace command conveyed in the activation signal, the pace command instructing the wireless semi-passive RF probe to generate at least one pacing pulse with the capacitor.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing architecture of the wireless semi-passive RF probe is programmed to respond to a defibrillate command conveyed in the activation signal, the defibrillate command instructing the wireless semi-passive RF probe to generate at least one defibrillation pulse with the capacitor.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing architecture of the wireless semi-passive RF probe is programmed to respond to a status command conveyed in the activation signal, the status command instructing the wireless semi-passive RF probe to provide status information to the IMD.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the status information includes a charge status for the capacitor.

15. A method of operating an implantable medical system comprising an implantable medical device (IMD), a transceiver antenna lead coupled to the IMD, and a radio frequency (RF) probe, the method comprising:

generating, with the IMD, an activation signal formatted to control activation of the RF probe;

transmitting the activation signal from the IMD, through the transceiver antenna lead, and from an RF lead antenna of the transceiver antenna lead; and

wirelessly activating the RF probe in response to the transmitted activation signal.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

generating, with the IMD, a charge signal for the RF probe;

transmitting the charge signal from the IMD, through the transceiver antenna lead, and from the RF lead antenna; and

wirelessly energizing a capacitor of the RF probe in response to the transmitted charge signal.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein:

the RF probe has a probe identifier that is unique throughout at least the system; and

the activation signal conveys the probe identifier.

18. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

detecting, with the RF probe, electromagnetic activity associated with body tissue/fluid;

generating, with the RF probe, a sensor signal that conveys the electromagnetic activity detected by the RF probe; and

transmitting the sensor signal from the RF probe to the IMD via the transceiver antenna lead.

19. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the RF probe generating, in response to the transmitted activation signal, at least one pacing pulse.

20. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the RF probe generating, in response to the transmitted activation signal, at least one defibrillation pulse.

21. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

the RF probe generating, in response to the transmitted activation signal, status information; and

transmitting the status information from the RF probe to the IMD via the transceiver antenna lead.

22. An implantable medical system comprising:

an implantable medical device (IMD) comprising a transceiver and a first radio frequency (RF) antenna coupled to the transceiver via a transceiver antenna lead; and

a wireless therapy delivery transponder comprising a second RF antenna, an electrode arrangement configured to establish electrical contact with body tissue/fluid, and a capacitor coupled to the electrode arrangement;

the IMD being configured to transmit a charge signal using the transceiver and the first RF antenna;

the wireless therapy delivery transponder being configured to receive the charge signal at the second RF antenna, and to energize the capacitor in response to received charge signals;

the IMD being configured to transmit an activation signal using the transceiver and the first RF antenna; and

the wireless therapy delivery transponder being configured to receive the activation signal at the second RF antenna, and, in response to received activation signals, to control delivery of electrical therapy to body tissue/fluid via the capacitor and the electrode arrangement.

23. A system according to claim 22, the wireless therapy delivery transponder further comprising a processing architecture programmed to respond to commands conveyed in activation signals, the commands comprising:

a sense command that instructs the wireless therapy delivery transponder to detect electromagnetic activity conducted by the body tissue/fluid;

a pace command that instructs the wireless therapy delivery transponder to generate at least one pacing pulse with the capacitor;

a defibrillate command that instructs the wireless therapy delivery transponder to generate at least one defibrillation pulse with the capacitor; and

a status command that instructs the wireless therapy delivery transponder to provide status information to the IMD.