IMPLANTABLE THERAPY SYSTEM

• US 20080300656A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EnteroMedics, Inc. (ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.)
• Inventors: Donders, Adrianus, Stultz, Mark Raymond, Weijand, Koen Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A therapy system for applying an electrical signal to an internal anatomical feature of a patient includes an implantable component and an external component. The external component can be configured into one of multiple selectable operating modes. The therapy system also may include a first external antenna configured to communicate with the implantable component and a second external antenna configured to communicate with the implantable component. Plugging one of the external antennas into the external component automatically configures the external component into one of the operating modes.

Claims

1. A system for applying therapy to an internal anatomical feature of a patient comprising:

at least one electrode configured to be implanted within a body of the patient beneath a skin layer and placed at the anatomical feature, the electrode also configured to apply therapy to the anatomical feature upon application of a signal to the electrode;

an implantable component for placement in the body of the patient beneath the skin layer, the implantable component being configured to generate the signal and to transmit the signal to the electrode, the implantable component being coupled to an implanted antenna;

an external component including an external antenna configured to be placed above the skin layer and adapted to communicate with the implanted antenna across the skin layer through radiofrequency communication, the external component having a plurality of selectable operating modes, each operating mode being associated with a different set of operations available for selection by a user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the external component includes a first user interface configured to receive user input including a selection of one of the operating modes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the external component defines at least a first port and the external antenna is coupled to the external component at the first port.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an external power source configured to be received at the first port, wherein the external component receives power from the external power source when the external power source is received at the first port, and wherein the external power source cannot be received at the first port when the external antenna is received at the first port.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the external component is configured to transmit at least some of the power received from the external power source to the implantable component.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external programmer configured to communicatively couple to the external component at a second port, the external programmer being configured to provide therapy instructions to the external component, wherein the external component is configured to send the therapy instructions to the implantable component via the external antenna and the implanted antenna.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the external programmer includes a personal computer.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the external programmer is configured to obtain patient data stored on the external component, the external component having received the patient data from the implantable component.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the external component is adapted to be configured into a programming mode when the external programmer is coupled to the external component at the second port, wherein the external component does not provide power to the implantable component when configured in the programming mode.

10. A therapy system for applying therapy to an internal anatomical feature of a patient, the system comprising:

an implantable component configured to be implanted within the body of the patient beneath a skin layer, the implantable component configured to deliver therapy to the internal anatomical feature;

an implanted antenna implanted within the body of the patient and coupled to the implantable component;

a first external antenna configured to communicate with the implanted antenna across the skin layer;

a second external antenna configured to communicate with the implanted antenna across the skin layer; and

an external component defining a first port configured to selectively receive one of the first external antenna and the second external antenna, the external component being configured to communicate with the implantable component by sending communication signals between the received external antenna and the implanted antenna, the external component being adapted to be configured into at least two different operating modes, each operating mode being associated with different operation instructions for the implantable component, wherein a first of the operating modes is associated with the first external antenna and a second of the operation modes is associated with the second external antenna such that plugging one of the external antennas into the first port automatically configures the external component into the associated operating mode.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one electrode configured to be implanted within a body of the patient and arranged adjacent the anatomical feature, the electrode being configured to apply therapy to the anatomical feature upon receipt of an electrical signal at the electrode, the electrical signal having been generated at the implantable component.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first external antenna has a cable extending along a first length and the second external antenna has a cable extending along a second length that is longer than the first length.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second length of the cable of the second external antenna is sufficient to enable the external component to be located outside a sterile area in an operating room when the second external antenna is received at the first port of the external component and aligned with the implanted antenna.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the second external antenna is associated with an operating room mode.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the operating room mode enables a physician to conduct a plurality of system and patient response tests.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the second external antenna includes a resistor, which can be recognized by the external component when the second antenna is received at the first port.

17. A method for providing a short distance telemetry system, the method comprising:

providing power from an external transceiver to an implantable device to power telemetry communications between the external transceiver and the implantable device; and

providing power from an internal battery of the implantable device to additional circuitry within the implantable device to power operation of the additional circuitry.

18. A method for recharging an implantable device containing a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

(a) providing a high power, unmodulated transmission from an external charger to the implantable device to recharge the rechargeable battery in the implantable device, wherein the unmodulated transmission is passed between the external charger and the implantable device for a finite period of time, and wherein the transmission does not include communicate information; and

(b) providing a communicational, modulated transmission when the unmodulated transmission ceases.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating any increase in temperature of the implantable device to the external charger.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the unmodulated transmission is passed for a finite period of time of about 0.5 to 5 minutes.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein an amplitude of the modulated transmission is within requirements provided by FCC Title 47 Part 15.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising subsequently repeating steps 9(a) and 9(b) with a reduced power level for the unmodulated transmission.

23. A method of transmitting information from an implanted device to an external device, the implanted device having an antenna coil for receiving electromagnetic energy from an external source and a rectifier circuit for rectifying the received electromagnetic energy, the method comprising:

monitoring from a location within the implanted device at least one parameter associated with the implanted device that is indicative of information to be sent to a location external to the implanted device;

modulating a transmission from the antenna coil between half-wave rectification and no rectification as a function of the monitored parameter; and

sensing from the location external the implanted device the modulation of the rectifier circuit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein an amplitude of the modulated transmission is within requirements provided by FCC Title 47 Part 15.