ACOUSTIC ACTIVATION OF COMPONENTS OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20100331915A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Receveur, Rogier, Hill, Gerard J., Larik, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US12/494,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• 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: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/02 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

A power source of an implantable medical device (IMD) is connected to one or more components that perform various functions of the IMD via an acoustic switching circuit. The acoustic switching circuit may include one or more switches that when open disconnect the one or more components from the power source and when closed connect the one or more components to the power source to activate the one or more components. Various techniques for connecting the components to the power source are described. These techniques aim to reduce the likelihood of inadvertently connecting the power source to the one or more components in response to acoustical signals from a source of interference.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a power source;

at least one component that performs a function of the implantable medical device;

at least one acoustic switching circuit between the power source and the at least one component, wherein the acoustic switching circuit connects the power source to the at least one component in response to receiving one or more acoustic signals; and

a confirmation module that determines whether the one or more acoustic signals were intended to connect the power source to the at least one component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the confirmation module analyzes one or more acoustic signals received after connection of the power source to the at least one component in making the determination.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the confirmation module causes the acoustic switching circuit to open when it is determined that the one or more acoustic signals were not intended to connect the power source to the at least one component.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the confirmation module determines whether a wake up code is received after the connection of the power source to the at least one component and causes the acoustic switching circuit to open when no wake up code is received.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the acoustic switching circuit connects the power source to the at least one component in response to the one or more acoustical signals being present for a threshold period of time.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the acoustic switching circuit connects the power source to the at least one component in response to in response to receiving at least two acoustic signals of different frequencies in at least one of a particular order and a particular period of time.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the acoustic switching circuit includes at least one acoustic transducer and at least one switch.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one switch comprises a bi-stable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches.

9. A method comprising:

connecting a power source of an implantable medical device to at least one component of the implantable medical device in response to receiving one or more acoustic signals;

determining whether the one or more acoustic signals were intended to connect the power source to the at least one component; and

disconnecting the power source from the at least one component when it is determined that the one or more acoustic signals were not intended to connect the power source to the at least one component.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising analyzing one or more acoustic signals received after connection of the power source to the at least one component in making the determination.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein

determining whether the one or more acoustic signals were intended to connect the power source to the at least one component comprises determining whether a wake up code is received after the connection of the power source to the at least one component;

and

disconnecting the power source from the at least one component comprises disconnecting the power source from the at least one component when no wake up code is received after the connection of the power source to the at least one component.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein connecting the power source to the at least one component comprises connecting the power source to the at least one component in response to the one or more acoustical signals being present for a threshold period of time.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein connecting the power source to the at least one component comprises connecting the power source to the at least one component in response to receiving at least two acoustic signals of different frequencies in at least one of a particular order and a particular period of time.

14. An implantable medical device comprising:

means for connecting a power source of an implantable medical device to at least one component of the implantable medical device in response to receiving one or more acoustic signals;

means for determining whether the one or more acoustic signals were intended to connect the power source to the at least one component; and

means for disconnecting the power source from the at least one component when it is determined that the one or more acoustic signals were not intended to connect the power source to the at least one component.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising means for analyzing one or more acoustic signals received after connection of the power source to the at least one component in making the determination.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein

the determining means determines whether a wake up code is received after the connection of the power source to the at least one component;

and

the disconnecting means disconnects the power source from the at least one component when no wake up code is received after the connection of the power source to the at least one component.