CONFIGURATION OF IMPLANTED DEVICES

• US 20100016922A1
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Daly, Christopher N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,576,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36039 fitting procedures
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an implantable medical device comprising: an implantable component, comprising an implantable memory module, configured to receive and store recipient-specific operating parameters in the implantable memory module, an external component, comprising an external memory module, configured to communicate with the implantable component to receive the recipient-specific operating parameters, and to configure the external component using the recipient-specific operating parameters, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to transfer the recipient-specific operating parameters upon operationally coupling the implantable component with the external component.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

an implantable component, comprising an implantable memory module, configured to receive and store recipient-specific operating parameters in said implantable memory module;

an external component, comprising an external memory module, configured to communicate with said implantable component to receive said recipient-specific operating parameters, and to configure the external component using said recipient-specific operating parameters,

wherein said implantable medical device is configured to transfer said recipient-specific operating parameters upon operationally coupling said implantable component with said external component.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein said implantable component is configured to be coupled to a programming system, prior to implantation of said implantable component in the recipient, and further configured to receive said recipient-specific operating parameters therefrom.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein said implantable medical device is configured to be communicably coupled to said programming system via a cable.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein said implantable medical device is configured to be communicably coupled to said programming system via a wireless connection.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein said implantable component is configured to receive a request from said external component prior to transferring said recipient-specific operating parameters from said implantable memory module to said external memory module of said external component.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein said external component further comprises an identification circuit, said external component configured to transmit an identification code stored on said identification circuit, and

further wherein said implantable component comprises a sensor configured to receive said identification code and further configured to transmit said recipient-specific operating parameters from said implantable memory module to said external memory module upon receiving said identification code.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein said external component is configured to broadcast said identification code periodically.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 6, further comprising an external communication component configured to couple with said external component and to transmit said identification code from said external component to said implantable component, and further configured to receive and then provide said recipient-specific operating parameters from said implantable memory module to said external memory module.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein said implantable component is configured to receive said identification code directly from said external component.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising an external communication component configured to couple with said external component and to receive and then provide said recipient-specific operating parameters from said implantable memory module to said external memory module.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein said implantable component is configured to receive said identification code directly from said external component.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein said data transferred to said external memory module comprises a subset of said data stored in said implantable memory module.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein said implantable medical device is a prosthetic hearing device.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein said prosthetic hearing device is a cochlear implant.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein said prosthetic hearing device is a bone conduction device.

16. A method for configuring an implantable medical device for a recipient having an implantable component and an external component, each of the components having a respective implantable memory module and external memory module, the method comprising:

storing recipient-specific operating parameters in the implantable component;

communicably coupling the implantable component and the external component;

transferring the recipient-specific operating parameters from the implantable component to the external component; and

configuring said external component by applying the recipient-specific operating parameters to the external component.

17. The method for programming an implantable medical device of claim 16, wherein said communicably coupling the implantable component to the external component further comprises:

verifying the compatibility of the implantable component with the external component prior to said transferring recipient-specific operating parameters between the implantable memory module and the external memory module.

18. The method for programming an implantable medical device of claim 16, wherein said transferring recipient-specific operating parameters between the implantable memory module and the external memory module is via a wireless link between the implantable component and the external component.

19. The method for programming an implantable medical device of claim 16, wherein said transferring recipient-specific operating parameters between the implantable memory module and the external memory module comprises transferring a subset of data stored in the implantable memory module.

20. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for controlling a processor to execute a method for configuring an implantable medical device for a recipient having an implantable component and an external component, each of the components having a respective implantable memory module and external memory module, the method comprising:

storing recipient-specific operating parameters in the implantable component;

communicably coupling the implantable component and the external component;

transferring the recipient-specific operating parameters from the implantable component to the external component; and

configuring said external component by applying the recipient-specific operating parameters to the external component.

21. The computer readable medium comprising a computer program for controlling a processor of claim 20, wherein said communicably coupling the implantable component to the external component further comprises:

verifying the compatibility of the implantable component with the external component prior to said transferring recipient-specific operating parameters between the implantable memory module and the external memory module.

22. An implantable medical device for a recipient having an implantable component and an external component, each of the components having a respective implantable memory module and external memory module, the device comprising:

means for storing recipient-specific operating parameters in the implantable component;

means for communicably coupling the implantable component and the external component;

means for transferring the recipient-specific operating parameters from the implantable component to the external component; and

means for configuring said external component by applying the recipient-specific operating parameters to the external component.

23. The implantable medical device for programming an implantable medical device of claim 22, further comprising:

means for verifying the compatibility of the implantable component with the external component prior to said transferring recipient-specific operating parameters between the implantable memory module and the external memory module.

24. An implantable medical device comprising:

an implantable component, comprising an implantable memory module, configured to receive and store recipient-specific operating parameters in said implantable memory module;

an external component, comprising an external memory module, configured to communicate with said implantable component to transmit configuration data to or from said implantable component,

wherein said implantable medical device is configured to transfer said configuration data upon operationally coupling said implantable component with said external component.

25. The implantable medical device of claim 24, wherein said external component further comprises an identification circuit, said external component configured to transmit an identification code stored on said identification circuit, and

further wherein said implantable component comprises a sensor configured to receive said identification code and further configured to enter an operational mode upon receiving said identification code.

26. The implantable medical device of claim 25, wherein said external component is configured to broadcast said identification code periodically.

27. The implantable medical device of claim 25, further comprising an external communication component configured to couple with said external component and to transmit said identification code from said external component to said implantable component.

28. The implantable medical device of claim 25, wherein said implantable component is configured to receive said identification code directly from said external component.

29. The implantable medical device of claim 25, said implantable component further configured to maintain said operational mode upon periodically receiving said identification code within a preset time period.

30. The implantable medical device of claim 25, wherein said external component further comprises a functional component configured to provide a functional signal to said implantable component.

31. The implantable medical device of claim 30, wherein said functional component is a power source.

32. The implantable medical device of claim 30, wherein said functional component is a speech processor.

33. The implantable medical device of claim 31, wherein said functional signal is a power signal from said power source.

34. The implantable medical device of claim 33, wherein said implantable component is configured to periodically match said received identification code from said external component to a corresponding identification code stored in said implantable memory module, and further configured to accept said power signal from said functional component only subsequent to said identification code being matched to said identification code.

35. The implantable medical device of claim 24, wherein said implantable medical device is a prosthetic hearing device.

36. The implantable medical device of claim 35, wherein said prosthetic hearing device is a cochlear implant.

37. The implantable medical device of claim 35, wherein said prosthetic hearing device is a bone conduction device.