Cross-Band Communications In An Implantable Device

• US 20110275911A1
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mosesov, Oleg
• Granted Patent: US 8,391,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02

Abstract

An ambulatory monitoring device includes a sensor to monitor a physiological signal and a battery power source. The device also includes a wireless receiver adapted to monitor a first frequency band having frequencies below 1 MHz and configured to detect and receive, using less than 10 micro-amps of current from the battery power source when operating, wireless communications within the first frequency band from a remote device at least one meter away. The device further includes a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit—after receipt from the remote device of a first wireless communication within the first frequency band that includes an invitation for further communication—a second wireless communication in a second frequency band having frequencies above 10 MHz, the second wireless communication comprising data indicative of the physiological signal as sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient, the implantable medical device comprising:

a) one or more sensors configured to monitor a physiological condition of the body of the patient;

b) sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors;

c) a receiver configured to receive information from an external device in a first frequency band of frequencies less than 1 MHz at a receiving range of at least about two meters;

d) a transmitter configured to send information to the external device using a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band, wherein frequencies of the second frequency band are above 10 MHz; and

e) a power supply;

f) wherein the receiver is powered on continuously when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the receiver is an ultra-low power receiver.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the ultra-low power receiver uses a current of about 3 microamps or less.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors comprise ECG sensors.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first frequency band is an RFID frequency in the range of about 125 to 134 kHz.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the second frequency band is a MICS band in the range of 402-405 MHz.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the second frequency band is in the range of about 902 to about 928 MHz.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the information received by the receiver from the external device comprises a selection of a frequency in a MICS band for the transmitter to send information to the external device.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the receiver and transmitter are integrated as a transceiver.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the information received by the receiver from the external device comprises set up information that determines how transmissions from the implantable device will be done.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the set up information comprises a selection of a frequency in a MICS band for the transmitter to send information to the external device.

12. An implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient, the implantable medical device comprising:

a) one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient;

b) sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors;

c) a receiver configured to receive information from an external device in a first frequency band;

d) a transmitter configured to send information to the external device using a second frequency band; and

e) a power supply;

f) wherein the receiver is powered on continuously when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient; and

g) wherein the first frequency band is lower than about 1 MHz, and wherein frequencies of the second frequency band are higher than frequencies of the first frequency band.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the first frequency band is an RFID frequency in the range of about 125 kHz to about 134 kHz.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the second frequency band is higher than about 200 MHz.

15. A method for communicating with an implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of patient, which includes one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient and sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a first communication from an external device by a receiver in the implantable medical device within a first frequency band of frequencies less than 1 MHz at a receiving range of at least about two meters;

b) sending a second communication from the implantable medical device to the external device within a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band, wherein frequencies of the second frequency band are above 10 MHz; and

c) providing a power supply in the implantable medical device,

d) wherein the receiver is powered on continuously when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient.

16. The method of claim 15 including providing an ultra-low power receiver in the implantable medical device receiving the first communication.

17. The method of claim 16 including providing the ultra-low power receiver using a current of about 3 microamps or less.

18. The method of claim 15 including sensing ECG signals in the body of the patient.

19. The method of claim 15 including providing the first frequency band being an RFID frequency in the range of about 125 to about 134 kHz.

20. The method of claim 15 including providing the second frequency band being a MICS band in the range of 402-405 MHz.

21. The method of claim 15 including providing the second frequency band being in the range of about 902 to about 928 MHz.

22. The method of claim 15 including the information received by the receiver from the external device being of a frequency in a MICS band for the transmitter to send information to the external device.

23. The method of claim 15 including providing the implantable medical device comprising a transceiver to receive the first communication and send the second communication.

24. The method of claim 15 including the information received by the receiver from the external device comprising set up information that determines how transmissions from the implantable device will be done.

25. The method of claim 24 including providing the set up information comprising a selection of a frequency in a MICS band for the transmitter to send information to the external device.