SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RF WAKE-UP OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. A telemetry system for enabling radio-frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external remote monitor (RM), comprising:
- an antenna, an RF transmitter, an RF receiver, and a controller incorporated into each of the implantable device and the RM;
a wakeup timer incorporated into the implantable device;
wherein the RF transmitter and RF receiver of the implantable device are interfaced to the controller to enable the RF transmitter and RF receiver to be powered up or down;
wherein the RM is programmed to transmit a data segment containing a repeating sequence of special wakeup characters in order to establish an RF communications session with the implantable device;
wherein the implantable device is programmed to;
power up its RF receiver for a specified time window at periodic intervals to wait for receipt of a special wakeup character transmitted by the RM;
maintain its RF receiver and place its RF transmitter in a powered-up state upon receipt of the special character and for as long as consecutive special wakeup characters continue to be received; and
transmit an acknowledge signal upon receipt of at least one character other than a special wakeup character; and
wherein the RM is programmed to;
establish a communications session with the implantable device when a response to the acknowledge signal is received by the implantable device; and
adjust a periodic interval at which the RM transmits the special wakeup characters to the implantable device according to when previous successful communications sessions have been established.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A telemetry system is presented for enabling radio-frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external device in a manner which reduces the power requirements of the implantable device by duty cycling its RF circuitry. A wakeup scheme for the implantable device is provided in which the external device transmits a data segment containing a repeating sequence of special wakeup characters in order to establish a communications session with the implantable device. The wakeup scheme may be designed to operate in the context of a handshaking protocol for collision avoidance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A telemetry system for enabling radio-frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external remote monitor (RM), comprising:
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an antenna, an RF transmitter, an RF receiver, and a controller incorporated into each of the implantable device and the RM; a wakeup timer incorporated into the implantable device; wherein the RF transmitter and RF receiver of the implantable device are interfaced to the controller to enable the RF transmitter and RF receiver to be powered up or down; wherein the RM is programmed to transmit a data segment containing a repeating sequence of special wakeup characters in order to establish an RF communications session with the implantable device; wherein the implantable device is programmed to; power up its RF receiver for a specified time window at periodic intervals to wait for receipt of a special wakeup character transmitted by the RM; maintain its RF receiver and place its RF transmitter in a powered-up state upon receipt of the special character and for as long as consecutive special wakeup characters continue to be received; and transmit an acknowledge signal upon receipt of at least one character other than a special wakeup character; and wherein the RM is programmed to; establish a communications session with the implantable device when a response to the acknowledge signal is received by the implantable device; and adjust a periodic interval at which the RM transmits the special wakeup characters to the implantable device according to when previous successful communications sessions have been established. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method by which an external remote monitoring device (RM) communicates with an implantable medical device via a wireless telemetry system, comprising:
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transmitting a data segment containing a repeating sequence of special wakeup characters from the RM in order to establish an RF communications session with the implantable device; powering up an RF receiver of the implantable device for a specified time window at periodic intervals to wait for receipt of a special wakeup character transmitted by the RM, wherein the implantable device maintains the RF receiver and an RF transmitter in a powered-up state upon receipt of a special character and for as long as consecutive special wakeup characters continue to be received; transmitting, by the implantable device, an acknowledge signal upon receipt of at least one character other than a special wakeup character; establishing a communications session with the implantable device when a response to the acknowledge signal is received by the implantable device; and adjusting, by the RM, a periodic interval at which the RM transmits the special wakeup characters to the implantable device according to when previous successful communications sessions have been established. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification