IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM HAVING SHORT RANGE COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN AN EXTERNAL CONTROLLER AND AN EXTERNAL CHARGER

• US 20100305663A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: AGHASSIAN, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US12/476,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved system for providing charging information during the powering of a medical implantable device by an external changer. In the disclosed system, relevant charging information originates in the external charger, or is transmitted to the external charger from the implant during charging. The charging information is transferred from the external charger to an external controller using a short range communication link that is not orientation dependent (i.e., omni-directional), such as one employing a Bluetooth™ or Zibgee™ protocol for example. Once received, the external controller can convey the charging information to the patient or clinician, such as by displaying the charging information on the graphical user interface of the external controller. Additionally, the short range communication link between the external controller and the external charger allows the external charger to be controlled by the external controller, which adds system flexibility and convenience.

Claims

1. A system for providing power to an implantable medical device, comprising:

an external charger for providing power to the implantable medical device by producing a magnetic charging field; and

an external controller for sending therapy settings to the implantable medical device,

wherein charging information is transferred from the external charger to the external controller along a wireless communication link during providing power to the implantable medical device by the external charger.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller further comprises a user interface for conveying the transferred charging information to a user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user interface is graphical.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the external charger further comprises a non-graphical user interface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication link is an RF wireless communication link that is not dependent on alignment between the external charger and the external controller.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication link comprises a Bluetooth link or a Zigbee link.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the charging information originates in the implantable medical device, the external charger, or both.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication link is bi-directional.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller and the external charger each have their own housings.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication link comprises a protocol, and wherein the system further comprises an external device capable of wirelessly communicating with the external controller and the external charger via the protocol.

11. A method for providing power to an implantable medical device, comprising:

activating an external charger to provide power to the implantable medical device;

receiving charging information at the external charger during providing power to the implantable medical device;

wirelessly transmitting the charging information to an external controller along a communication link during providing power to the implantable medical device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising conveying the charging information to a user via a user interface on the external controller.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user interface is graphical.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the external charger further comprises a non-graphical user interface.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication link is an RF wireless communication link that is not dependent on alignment between the external charger and the external controller.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication link comprises a Bluetooth link or a Zigbee link.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging information originates in the implantable medical device, the external charger, or both.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting therapy settings from the external controller to the implantable medical device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging information comprises information indicative of the temperature of the external charger.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging information comprises information indicative of the capacity of the battery in the external charger, the capacity of the battery in the implantable medical device, or both.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging information comprises information regarding the alignment between the external charger and the implantable medical device.

22. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending via the communication link at least one control instruction back from the external controller to the external charger in response receipt of the charging information at the external controller.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one control instruction comprises an instruction to cease activating the external charger to provide power to the implantable medical device.

24. The method of claim 11, wherein power is provided to the implantable medical device to charge a battery in the implantable medical device.