RELAY INTERFACE FOR CONNECTING AN IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICE TO AN EXTERNAL ELECTRONICS DEVICE

• US 20120095528A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Miller, Scott Allan III, Dupeyron, Denis
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An interface relay system for use with a fully implantable medical devices that permits transcutaneous coupling of the implanted medical device to a consumer electronics device. In one embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device provides a back-up source of power for operating the implanted medical device. In another embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device allows for providing unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transfer between the devices. In one arrangement, the consumer electronics device may be connectable to a communications/data network to allow for network communication between the implantable medical device and a remote processing platform/server.

Claims

1. An external device for transcutaneously connecting a consumer electronics device with an implanted medical device to provide power to the implanted medical device, comprising:

a housing adapted for external mounting proximate to an implanted medical device;

a cable extending from the housing and terminating in a connector adapted for receipt within a mating port of a consumer electronics device, wherein a first terminal of the connector is connectable to a power source of the consumer electronic device;

power control circuitry disposed within the housing, the power control circuitry operable to receive power from the first terminal via the cable and adapt the power for transcutaneous transmission; and

a wireless transmitter for transmitting the power from the housing for receipt by a receiver of an implanted medical device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein, upon connecting the connector with the receiving port of the consumer electronics device, the implanted medical device is at least partially powered using power from the consumer electronics device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the power control circuitry comprises:

an inverter for converting DC current received from the first terminal to an AC current.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the power control circuitry modulates a first electrical signal received via the first terminal to generate a second electrical signal for wireless transmission to the implantable medical device, wherein the second electrical signal is compatible with the implantable medical device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprise:

a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is operable to receive data signals originating from the consumer electronics device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the housing further comprises:

a controller, wherein the controller is operable to process the data signals received via the second terminal and generate processed signals, wherein the wireless transmitter is operative to transmit the processed data signals to the implantable medical device.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the controller is operable to receive signals originating from the implantable medical device and generate an output signal, wherein the output signal is provided to at least one terminal of the connector.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing further comprises an electronic memory device, the memory device including:

an implant communication protocol; and

at least one consumer electronics device communication protocol, wherein the controller is adapted to utilize the implant communication protocol and the consumer electronics device communication protocol to exchange data between the implantable medical device and the consumer electronics device.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the electronic memory device further comprises:

a plurality of consumer electronic device communications protocols associated with a plurality of different consumer electronics devices.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the data signal comprises an audio signal, wherein the processor is operable to process the audio signal for transmission and receipt by an implanted hearing instrument.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a coil, wherein the coil is operative to create an inductive coupling with a coil of an implanted medical device.

3. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

14. A system for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:

an implant interface device comprising;

a housing adapted for external mounting proximate to an implanted medical device;

a cable extending from the housing and terminating in a connector adapted for connection with a mating port;

a wireless transceiver for transcutaneously transmitting at least one of power and data received via the connector to an implanted medical device and transcutaneously receiving communications from the implanted medical device; and

a consumer electronics device comprising;

a power source;

a processor;

a communications port, wherein the connector of the implant interface device is selectively connectable with the communications port; and

a wireless interface for interconnecting the consumer electronics device to a communications network, wherein the consumer electronics device is operative for at least one of transmitting data originating from the implantable medical device to the communications network and transmitting data originating from the communications network to the implantable medical device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the consumer electronics device comprises a mobile phone.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile phone interconnects to a data network.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the consumer electronic device further comprises:

a communications protocol stored in an electronic memory device of the portable consumer electronics device, wherein the communications protocol enables the consumer electronic device to receive and output data via the communications port.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the consumer electronics device further comprises:

a microphone or speaker for generating an audio output signal, wherein the audio output signal is provided to the implant interface device, wherein the implant interface device provides the audio signal to an implanted hearing instrument.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein the implant interface device further comprises an electronic memory device, the memory device including:

an implant communication protocol;

at least one consumer electronics device communication protocol; and

a controller, wherein the controller utilizes the implant communication protocol and the consumer electronics device communication protocol to exchange data between the implantable medical device and the consumer electronics device.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

22. A method for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:

positioning an external interface device proximate to an implanted medical device, wherein the external interface device includes a wireless transmitter adapted to transcutaneously transmit power to a receiver of the implanted medical device;

interconnecting a cable of the external interface device with a port of a consumer electronics device, wherein the cable interconnects to a power source within the consumer electronics device;

utilizing the external interface device, adapting power received from the consumer electronics for transcutaneous transmission; and

transcutaneously transmitting power to the implantable medical device, wherein the implantable medical device is at least partially powered by the consumer electronic device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein interconnecting the cable comprises interconnecting the cable with a mobile phone.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

utilizing the external interface device, transmitting data between the implanted medical device and the consumer electronics device.

25-53. -53. (canceled)