METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING INTERFERENCE IN STIMULATION TREATMENT

• US 20120059436A1
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DJO LLC (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: EMPI Incorporated (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Fontaine, Nicolas, Guex, Steve, Baumgartner, Flavien
• Granted Patent: US 9,669,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• 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 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for reducing stimulation interference between two stimulation modules positioned on a user'"'"'s body, which may be used in stimulation systems without a central treatment controller. Systems and methods are also provided for stimulation treatment using multiple independent stimulators wirelessly managed by a remote management device.

Claims

1. A method for reducing interference between at least two electrostimulation transducers, wherein a first transducer is applied at a first body site and a second transducer is applied at a second body site, comprising:

monitoring the first body site during a first detection period; and

during the first detection period,

when a signal is detected indicative of a pulse generated by the second transducer, delaying for a first delay period before generating a first stimulation pulse using the first transducer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, during the first detection period, when a signal is not detected indicative of a pulse generated by the second transducer, generating a first stimulation pulse with the first transducer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the first body site is performed at pre-determined time intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first detection period comprises a first pre-determined time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first delay period comprises a time period with a first random duration.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first random duration is selected from between a lower duration limit and an upper duration limit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a signal indicative of a pulse generated with the second transducer comprises detecting a signal having an intensity exceeding a threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a retry counter is incremented in response to the delaying.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

triggering an electronic indicator when the retry counter reaches a retry limit.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a marking pulse with the first transducer prior to monitoring the first body site for the first detection period.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the marking pulse signifies a priority level of a treatment to be delivered by the first transducer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicative of a pulse generated by the second transducer is indicative of at least one of a marking pulse and a stimulation pulse generated by the second transducer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising identifying a priority level of a treatment to be delivered by the second transducer in response to detecting the signal indicative of the marking pulse generated by the second transducer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the duration of the first delay period is based at least in part on the identified priority level of the treatment to be delivered by the second transducer.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the second body site during a second detection period, and

when a signal is detected indicative of a pulse generated by the second transducer, registering a positive body site contact condition for the second transducer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein registering a positive body site contact condition for the second transducer occurs prior to generating a stimulation pulse with the second transducer, and the detected pulse generated by the second transducer is a marking pulse.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the second body site for a second detection period;

when, during the second detection period, a signal is detected indicative of a pulse generated by the first transducer, delaying for a second delay period before generating a second stimulation pulse with the second transducer; and

when, during the second detection period, a signal is not detected indicative of a pulse generated by the first transducer, generating a second stimulation pulse with the second transducer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein monitoring the first body site is performed at first pre-determined time intervals and monitoring the second body site is performed at second pre-determined time intervals.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second delay period is different from the first delay period.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising:

generating a first marking pulse with the first transducer prior to monitoring the first body site for a first detection period; and

generating a second marking pulse with the second transducer prior to monitoring the second body site for a second detection period.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the signal indicative of a pulse generated with the first transducer is indicative of one of the first marking pulse and the second stimulation pulse.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein first and second stimulation clocks are operatively coupled to the first and second transducers, respectfully, the method further comprising:

wirelessly receiving a communication synchronization signal; and

,

in response to receiving the communication synchronization signal, adjusting at least one of the first and second stimulation clocks to synchronize the first and second stimulation clocks.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of adjusting a stimulation clock is performed repeatedly, and wherein a plurality of communication synchronization signals are received between successive stimulation clock adjustments.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the number of communication synchronization signals received between successive stimulation clock adjustments is based at least in part on a frequency of stimulation pulses generated by the first transducer.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein one or more additional transducers are configured to be applied at respectively one or more additional body sites, the method further comprising

monitoring the one or more additional body sites for a detection period;

and

during the detection period,

when a signal is detected indicative of a pulse generated by at least one of the first and second transducers, delaying for a delay period before generating a stimulation pulse with at least one of the one or more additional transducers, and

otherwise, generating a stimulation pulse with at least one of the one or more additional transducers.

26. A stimulation treatment system, comprising:

at least one stimulation transducer device; and

a first processor having communication circuitry configured to communicate with the at least one stimulation transducer device;

the at least one stimulation transducer device having circuitry that generates and detects stimulation and is configured to;

receive treatment information from the first processor,

deliver a stimulation treatment to a user in accordance with the received treatment information,

detect a signal indicative of stimulation treatment delivered to the user by the second stimulation transducer device, and

in response to detecting the signal, delay the delivery of stimulation treatment.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the stimulation transducer device detects a signal during a first detection period.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the stimulation transducer device detects a signal when the signal has a magnitude exceeding a pre-determined threshold.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the stimulation transducer device includes circuitry that filters the signal.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the stimulation transducer device includes circuitry that ascribes a priority to the signal.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein at least one stimulation transducer device includes a processor that causes a delay of the delivery of stimulation treatment, and causes the stimulation transducer device to deliver stimulation after the delay.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a counter for storing a value indicative of a number of times that stimulation treatment is delivered by at least one stimulation transducer device after delaying the delivery of stimulation treatment.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a processor configured to determine when the value stored in the counter exceeds a retry limit.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one stimulation transducer device is further configured to transmit a signal to the management module when the value stored in the counter exceeds the retry limit.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein at least one stimulation transducer device is further configured to provide a marking pulse after delaying the delivery of stimulation treatment and prior to delivery of stimulation treatment.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the first processor is configured to transmit a communication synchronization signal to at least one stimulation transducer device, and the at least one stimulation transducer device is further configured to receive the synchronization signal and adjust a stimulation clock operatively coupled to the at least one stimulation transducer device.

37. The system of claim 26, wherein the second stimulation transducer device has circuitry that generates and detects stimulation and is configured to:

receive treatment information from the first processor,

deliver a stimulation treatment to a user in accordance with the received treatment information,

detect a signal indicative of stimulation treatment delivered to the user by the first stimulation transducer device, and

in response to detecting the signal, delay the delivery of stimulation.

38. The system of claim 26, wherein the communication circuitry is wireless communication circuitry.