ACOUSTICALLY POWERED IMPLANTABLE STIMULATING DEVICE

• US 20130238044A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Penner, Abraham
• Application Number:
  US13/843,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238044A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

An implantable stimulation system comprises an implantable stimulator and a control device. The control device is configured to transmit acoustic waves to the implantable stimulator, and the implantable stimulator is configured to transform the acoustic waves into electrical current, and generate stimulation energy based on the electrical current. For example, the electrical current can be transformed into electrical energy that can be used to generate the stimulation energy. Or the electrical current can contain signals used to directly or indirectly control the generation of the stimulation energy.

Claims

1. A cardiac stimulation system, comprising:

an external control device configured for transmitting an acoustic signal through body tissue; and

an implantable cardiac stimulator including a stimulator electrode configured for electrically stimulating adjacent heart tissue, one or more acoustic transducers configured for transforming the signal into an electrical current, and a switch configured for receiving the electrical current and, in response, placing the implantable stimulator in a dormant mode, wherein the implantable stimulator further includes a control unit configured to control delivery of electrical stimulation energy to the stimulator electrode, and wherein in the dormant mode at least a portion of the control unit is deactivated.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of stimulator electrodes each configured for electrically stimulating adjacent heart tissue.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the delivery of electrical stimulation energy to the stimulator electrodes based on one or more stimulation parameters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein in the dormant mode at least a portion of the control unit is activated.

5. An implantable medical device, comprising:

one or more sensing mechanisms configured for sensing a signal and providing an indication of the sensed signal; and

a control unit configured to receive the indication of the sensed signal and, in response, to change a state of the implantable medical device.

6. The device of claim 5, the one or more sensing mechanisms comprising one or more acoustic transducers configured for transforming an acoustic signal into an electrical signal.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of stimulator electrodes each configured for electrically stimulating nerve tissue within the body.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the delivery of electrical stimulation energy to the stimulator electrodes based on one or more stimulation parameters.

9. The device of claim 5, the one or more sensing mechanisms comprising a sensor configured for sensing one or more parameters within the body.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the state of the implantable medical device comprises one of an at least partially activated state and an at least partially deactivated state.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the indication of the sensed signal and, in response, to change a state of the control unit.

12. The device of claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the indication of the sensed signal and, in response, to at least partially deactivate the control unit.

13. A stimulation system, comprising:

a control device configured for transmitting a signal through body tissue; and

an implantable stimulator including a stimulator electrode configured for electrically stimulating adjacent body tissue, one or more sensing mechanisms configured for sensing the signal and, in response, providing an electrical signal, and a control unit configured to receive the electrical signal and, in response, to change a state of the implantable stimulator.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the electrical signal and, in response, at least partially deactivate the implantable stimulator.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein control unit is configured to receive the electrical signal and, in response, at least partially deactivate the control unit.