Communication System Using an Implantable Device

• US 20120004527A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Biomedical, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Thompson, Todd, Zdeblick, Mark, Behzadi, Yashar, Costello, Benedict, Robertson, Timothy, Hafezi, Hooman, Savage, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/377
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

The system of the present invention includes an implantable device that can detect high and low frequency current signature. The implantable device can communicate with a communication device that includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, the communication device is activated.

Claims

1. An implantable device for communication with a communication device that communicates information using a current signature, the communication device comprising:

a support structure;

a first material physically associated with the support structure; and

a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the location of the first material, such that the first material and second material are electrically isolated from each other,

wherein the support structure includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material to produce a high frequency current signature with information and

wherein the implantable device can detect and decode the high frequency current signature as well as a low frequency current signature.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the low frequency current signature is produced by a user'"'"'s body.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising a satellite unit including a processor and a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least one electrode receives the high frequency current signature.

4. A system for communication, the system comprising:

a communication device to communicate information using a current signature,

wherein the device comprises;

a support structure;

a first material physically associated with the support structure; and

a second material insulated from the first material and physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the location of the first material, such that the first material and second material are electrically isolated from each other,

wherein the support structure includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material to produce a current signature with information; and

an implantable device associated with a user'"'"'s body, wherein the implantable device detects and decodes the information produced by the communication device,

wherein the communication device produces the current signature when the communication device in is contact with a conducting fluid.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a non-conductive membrane secured to the support structure and positioned relative to the first and second materials to facilitate extension of the electrical path between the first and second material.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the implantable device is at least one of an implantable sensing device and an implantable stimulation device positioned within the heart to provide pacing pulses to the heart.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the implantable device is selected from a group consisting essentially of an implantable neural device and an implantable cardiac device.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a pharmaceutical product in an ingestible form associated, the pharmaceutical product associated with the communication device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication device is housed within a capsule that disintegrates upon contact with the conducting fluid and wherein the communication device delivers at least one of programming information and an instruction for the implantable device.

12. The system of claim 5 wherein the implantable device is a detector positioned under the skin for recording information associated with the device.

10. The system of 6, wherein the information includes the identity of the communication device.

11. The system of 6, wherein the information includes the time of activation of the communication device.

13. An implantable unit to deliver a pacing pulse and to communicate to a communication device, the implantable lead comprising:

at least one conducting wire;

a processor coupled to the wire, the processor comprising;

a bus;

high frequency detection module coupled to the bus for receiving and decoding a high frequency current signature;

a low frequency detection module coupled to the bus for receiving low frequency current signature;

a plurality of individually addressable electrodes coupled to the processor, each electrode able to receive at least one of the high frequency current signature and the low frequency current signature, wherein the high frequency current signature includes information encoded therein for communication and the low frequency current signature is related to physiological parameter.