Architectures for an Implantable Medical Device System
First Claim
1. An implantable stimulator device comprising a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes configured to provide stimulation to a patient'"'"'s tissue, comprising:
- a first integrated circuit comprising a first stimulation circuitry block for controlling stimulation of the plurality of first electrodes;
a second integrated circuit comprising a second stimulation circuitry block for controlling stimulation of the plurality of first electrodes; and
a bus in communication with both the first and second integrated circuits, wherein communications on the bus occurs in accordance with a bus protocol.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved architecture for an implantable medical device such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the various functional blocks for the IPG are incorporated into a signal integrated circuit (IC). Each of the functional blocks communicate with each other, and with other off-chip devices if necessary, via a centralized bus governed by a communication protocol. To communicate with the bus and to adhere to the protocol, each circuit block includes bus interface circuitry adherent with that protocol. Because each block complies with the protocol, any given block can easily be modified or upgraded without affecting the design of the other blocks, facilitating debugging and upgrading of the IPG circuitry. Moreover, because the centralized bus can be taken off the integrated circuit, extra circuitry can easily be added off chip to modify or add functionality to the IPG without the need for a major redesign of the main IPG IC.
27 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An implantable stimulator device comprising a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes configured to provide stimulation to a patient'"'"'s tissue, comprising:
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a first integrated circuit comprising a first stimulation circuitry block for controlling stimulation of the plurality of first electrodes; a second integrated circuit comprising a second stimulation circuitry block for controlling stimulation of the plurality of first electrodes; and a bus in communication with both the first and second integrated circuits, wherein communications on the bus occurs in accordance with a bus protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An implantable stimulator device comprising a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes configured to provide stimulation to a patient'"'"'s tissue, comprising:
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a first integrated circuit comprising a first stimulation circuitry block for controlling stimulation of the plurality of first electrodes; a second integrated circuit comprising a second stimulation circuitry block for controlling stimulation of the plurality of first electrodes, wherein the first and second integrated circuits are similarly constructed; and a controller for controlling the first and second integrated circuits. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification