MEDICAL DEVICES AND SYSTEMS HAVING SEPARATE POWER SOURCES FOR ENABLING DIFFERENT TELEMETRY SYSTEMS

• US 20090264950A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bornzin, Gene A., Snell, Jeffery D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

An implantable medical device includes a first, short-range telemetry circuit; a second, long-range telemetry circuit; a first power system that powers the first telemetry circuit; and a second power system that powers the second telemetry circuit. The second power system includes an internal charging system and a rechargeable battery coupled to the internal charging system. The internal charging system may be configured for electromagnetic-inductive or RF-transmission coupling with an external charging system. A controller monitors the energy level of the rechargeable battery and provides an signal indicative of the level.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a first telemetry circuit;

a second telemetry circuit;

a first power system that powers the first telemetry circuit; and

a second power system that powers the second telemetry circuit.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the second telemetry system requires higher power to operate relative to the first telemetry system.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the second power system comprises:

an internal charging system; and

a rechargeable battery coupled to the internal charging system.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the internal charging system is configured for coupling with an external charging system.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the coupling comprises one of electromagnetic inductive coupling and RF transmission coupling.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to monitor the energy level of the second power system and output a signal related to the energy level.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the signal comprises a warning signal when the energy level is below a threshold.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the signal comprises a diagnostic signal indicative of the energy level.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the output signal is operative to generate one of an audio, a visual, or a physically detectable indication.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the output signal is transmitted by one of the first telemetry circuit and the second telemetry circuit to an external device.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising other internal circuitry powered by the first power system.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising an external device configured for coupling with one or both of the short-range telemetry circuit and the long-range telemetry circuit.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the external device is configured for inductive coupling with the short-range telemetry circuit.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the external device is configured for RF coupling with the short-range telemetry circuit.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the external device is configured for RF coupling with the long-range telemetry circuit.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the implantable medical device further includes a controller configured to monitor the energy level of the second power system and output a signal related to the energy level for transmission to the external device.

12. A medical system comprising:

an implantable medical device having a short-range telemetry circuit, a long-range telemetry circuit, other internal circuitry, a first power system that powers the short-range telemetry circuit and the other internal circuitry, and a rechargeable second power system that powers the long-range telemetry circuit; and

an external charging system operative to recharge the second power system.