SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RADIO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND AN EXTERNAL BASE UNIT
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Abstract
In a system and method for radio communication between an implantable medical device (IMD) and an external base unit, respectively including transceivers for communication therebetween, the external base unit, according to a predetermined criterion, sends a sleep message to the IMD transceiver, requesting the IMD transceiver to switch power-consuming circuitry in the IMD to a sleep, power-down mode of operation for a predetermined sleep time period.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. A system for radio communication between an implantable medical device and an external base unit comprising:
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a first transceiver in said implantable medical device; a second transceiver in said external base unit, said first and second transceivers communicating with each other via a communication channel; a message generator in said external base unit that, according to a predetermined criterion, generates a sleep message and causes said sleep message to be transmitted to said implantable medical device via said first and second transceivers; power-consuming circuitry in said implantable medical device that, upon receipt of said sleep message, automatically switched to a sleep power down operational mode for a predetermined sleep time; disconnect circuitry in at least one of said implantable medical device or said external base unit that disconnects said communication channel in an absence of communication activity in said communication channel during a silent time period of predetermined length; said message generator in said base unit generating at least one standby message and causing said standby message to be communicated via said communication channel before expiration of said silent time period, to maintain said communication channel open between said base unit and said implantable medical device; and an acknowledgment unit in said implantable medical device that acknowledges receipt of said sleep message to said base unit via said first and second transceivers, but does not acknowledge receipt of said standby message. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for radio communication between an implantable medical device and an external base unit, each having a transceiver for communication therebetween, comprising the steps of:
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at said external base unit, generating a sleep message according to a predetermined criterion and transmitting said sleep message from said external base unit to said implantable medical device; upon receipt of said sleep message at said implantable medical device, automatically switching power-consuming circuitry in said implantable medical device to a power-down mode of operation for a predetermined sleep time period; communicating between said implantable medical device and said external base unit via a communication channel, and disconnecting said communication channel if no communication activity is detected in the communication channel during a silent time period of a predetermined length; before expiration of said silent time period, sending standby messages from said external base unit to said implantable medical device via said communication channel to maintain said communication channel active between said external base unit and said implantable medical device; and generating said standby messages as empty data packets and sending said empty data packets at intervals that are shorter than said silent time period. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification