Optical Communications Between an Implantable Medical Device and External Charger

• US 20150077050A1
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Van Funderburk, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 9,496,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

An improved medical device system is disclosed in which system devices communicate optically. An Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed having a hermetic window assembly on one side of its case, through which a photoemitter and photodetector can transmit and receive optical signals. The optical radiation in the signals is preferably visible, which permits communications from the IMD to be seen prior to implantation and even after implantation through a patient'"'"'s tissue. External controllers for adjusting therapeutic operation of the IMD, external chargers for providing a magnetic charging field to charge a battery in the IMD, and combined external controllers/chargers are also disclosed that optically communicate with the IMD through the patient'"'"'s tissue. The optical communication capabilities of the external charger are particularly useful in determining misalignment with the IMD.

Claims

1. An external charger for an implantable medical device, comprising:

a charging coil configured to provide a charging field to charge a battery in the implantable medical device during a charging session; and

at least one photodetector configured to receive at least one optical signal from the implantable medical device.

2. The external charger of claim 1, wherein at least one photodetector is centered with respect to the charging coil.

3. The external charger of claim 1, further comprising a case, and wherein the at least one photodetector is provided through one or more holes in the case.

4. The external charger of claim 1, further comprising a case, and wherein the at least one photodetector is located on an outside of the case.

5. The external charger of claim 1, further comprising a case and a window affixed to the case, wherein the at least one photodetector is configured to optically receive optical signal through the window.

6. The external charger of claim 5, wherein the window comprises a lens.

7. The external charger of claim 1, further comprising receiver circuitry coupled to the at least one photodetector configured to demodulate the at least one optical signal into a series of digital data bits.

8. The external charger of claim 7, wherein the at least one optical signal comprises one or more of a voltage of the battery, a charging current of the battery, and a temperature measured by the implantable medical device.

9. The external charger of claim 7, wherein the at least one optical signal comprises an instruction for the external charger to begin generating the charging field.

10. The external charger of claim 7, wherein at least one the optical signal is received by the external charger during production of the charging field.

11. The external charger of claim 10, wherein the at least one optical signal comprises data used to control the charging field.

12. The external charger of claim 11, wherein the external charger is configured to control the charging field by controlling an energy or a duty cycle of the charging field.

13. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the external charger is further configured to determine an alignment between the external charger and the implantable medical device by assessing the at least one optical signal.

14. The external charger of claim 13, wherein the external charge determines the alignment by assessing the received intensity of the at least one optical signal.

15. The external charger of claim 13, wherein the external charger is further configured to determine an direction that the external charger can be moved to improve alignment between the external charger and the implantable medical device by assessing the at least one optical signal.

16. The external charger of claim 15, wherein the external charger comprises a plurality of photodetectors arranged radially with respect to the charging coil, and wherein the external charger is configured to determine the direction by assessing the received intensity of the at least one optical signal at the plurality of photodetectors.

17. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the external charger comprises a mobile controller and a charging head, wherein the charging coil and the at least one photodetector are located in or on the charging head.

18. The external charger of claim 1, further comprising a photoemitter configured to transmit an optical signal to the implantable medical device.

19. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical signal is received prior to the charging session.

20. The external charger of claim 19, wherein the at least one optical signal causes the external device to start generating the charging field.