Communication System Using an Implantable Device

• US 20150080677A1
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Thompson, Todd, Zdeblick, Mark, Behzadi, Yashar, Costello, Benedict, Robertson, Timothy, HAFEZI, HOOMAN, Savage, George
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• 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

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An ingestible device to communicate information to an implantable device, the ingestible 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 a location of the first material, wherein the second material is dissimilar from the first material and has a different electrochemical potential such that the first and second materials produce a voltage potential difference as a result of the first and second materials being in contact with an electrically conductive fluid; and

a control device coupled to the first and second materials and powered by the voltage potential difference produced by the first and second materials, wherein the control device is configured to produce a first current signature which is conducted by the electrically conductive fluid and a second current signature which is conducted by the electrically conductive fluid.

15. The ingestible device of claim 14, wherein the second current information includes programming instructions to program an implantable device.

16. The ingestible device of claim 14, comprising a memory coupled to the control device.

17. The ingestible device of claim 16, wherein the memory stores the information to program the control device to output the first or second current signatures.

18. The ingestible device of claim 16, comprising a receiver system coupled to the control device and the memory, wherein the receiver system is configured to receive the information and store the information in the memory.

19. The ingestible device of claim 18, wherein the received information is configured to program the control device to output the first and second current signatures.

20. An ingestible device to communicate first and second information, the ingestible 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 a location of the first material, wherein the second material is dissimilar from the first material and has a different electrochemical potential such that the first and second materials produce a voltage potential difference as a result of the first and second materials being in contact with an electrically conductive fluid;

a control module coupled to the first and second materials to control the conductance between the first material and the second material, wherein the voltage potential difference is to power the control module and cause the control module to produce a first current signature which contains the first information conducted by the electrically conductive fluid; and

a communication unit coupled to the first and second materials to communicate the second information, wherein the voltage potential difference is to power the communication unit and cause the communication unit to communicate the second information.

21. The ingestible device of claim 20, wherein the communication unit is configured to function as any one of a receiver, a transmitter, or a transceiver.

22. The ingestible device of claim 21, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive or transmit the second information in the form of a second current signature conducted through the electrically conductive fluid surrounding the ingestible device.

23. The ingestible device of claim 22, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive the second information from a receiver attached to a user'"'"'s body, a device being held by the user, or an implanted device, any one of which is configured to generate the second current signature through the user'"'"'s body.

24. The ingestible device of claim 22, wherein the second current signature includes information that is encoded therein.

25. The ingestible device of claim 24, wherein the communication unit and the control module are configured detect the second current signature and to decode the second current signature to receive the second information.

26. The ingestible device of claim of claim 20, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive the second information either wirelessly or through transconduction to control the activation of the ingestible device.

27. The ingestible device of claim 20, further comprising at least one sensor to monitor environmental conditions surrounding the ingestible device, wherein when the environmental conditions become favorable for communication, as determined by the measurements of the environment by the at least one sensor, the communication unit sends a signal to the control device to alter the conductance between the first and second materials to allow for communication using the first current signature.

28. An ingestible device to communicate information to an implantable device, the ingestible device comprising:

a first material; and

a second material dissimilar from the first material and having a different electrochemical potential such that the first and second materials produce a voltage potential difference as a result of the first and second materials being in contact with an electrically conductive fluid; and

a control device coupled to the first and second materials and powered by the voltage potential difference produced by the first and second materials, wherein the control device is configured to produce a first current signature and a second current signature.

29. The ingestible device of claim 28, wherein the control device is configured to control the conductance between the first and second dissimilar materials.

30. The ingestible device of claim 28, wherein the control device is configured to alter the conductance between the first and second dissimilar materials in a specific to encode information in the first and second current signatures.

31. The ingestible device of claim 28, wherein the first current signature is encoded to identify the ingestible device.

32. The ingestible device of claim 28, wherein the second current signature is encoded to communicate with an implantable device.

33. The ingestible device of claim 28, wherein the first current signature is a very low current state that maintains an oscillator and the second current signature is a current state at least a factor of ten higher than the current state associated with the first current signature.