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

• US 20160008599A1
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Miller, Scott Allan, Dupeyron, Denis
• Granted Patent: US 10,485,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. 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 or data received via the connector to an implanted medical device and transcutaneously receiving communications from the implanted medical device; and

a consumer electronics device including;

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.

4. The system of claim 1, 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.

5. The system of claim 1, 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.

6. The device of claim 1, 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.

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein interconnecting the cable comprises interconnecting the cable with a mobile phone.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

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

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the implanted medical device is neural stimulation device.

11. A method for use with an implantable hearing instrument, comprising:

positioning an external interface device proximate to an implanted hearing instrument, wherein the external interface device includes a wireless transmitter adapted to transcutaneously communicate with a wireless transmitter of the implanted hearing instrument;

establishing data communication between the external interface device and a consumer electronics device having a network interface connectable to data network;

utilizing the consumer electronics device, transmitting data parameters via the network interface to a platform in the data network, wherein the data parameters are transcutaneously obtained from the implantable hearing instrument by the external interface device;

receiving fitting parameters via the network interface of the consumer electronics device, wherein the fitting parameters are generated in response to the data parameters; and

transcutaneously transmitting the fitting parameters to the implantable hearing instrument using the external interface device.

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

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mobile phone interconnects to a data network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the implantable medical device comprises an implantable hearing instrument; and

the method further comprises;

receiving an audio stimulation signal via the network interface; and

providing the audio stimulation signal to the implanted hearing instrument, wherein the data parameters are generated in response to the audio stimulation signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the audio stimulation signal comprises:

generating an ambient audio signal in response to the audio stimulation signal, wherein the implantable hearing instrument receives the audio stimulation signal via a microphone.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the audio stimulation signal comprises:

utilizing the external interface device to transcutaneously transmit the audio stimulation signal to a signal processor of the implantable hearing instrument.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating a controller in the interface device to utilize an implant communication protocol and a consumer electronics device communication protocol to translate signals received from one of the implantable hearing instrument and the consumer electronics device in to a form receivable by the other of the implantable hearing instrument and the consumer electronics device.

16. A method for use with an implantable hearing instrument, comprising:

interconnecting a consumer electronics device to a relay interface that provides transcutaneous communication with an implanted hearing instrument;

accessing through a data network interface of the consumer electronics device, a server that provides control functions for the implanted hearing instrument;

displaying an implant control interface screen via a graphical user display of the consumer electronics device;

receiving a user input via implant control interface screen of said graphical user interface;

receiving implant control information from said server, wherein said implant control information is received in response to said user input; and

outputting said implant control information to said relay interface, wherein said relay interface provides said control information to said implanted hearing instrument.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an audio stimulation signal from the server via the data network interface; and

providing the audio stimulation signal to the implanted hearing instrument, wherein data parameters are generated in response to the audio stimulation signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving said data parameters from said relay interface; and

providing said data parameters to said server via the data network interface.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving a user input comprises:

receiving a fitting selection from a plurality of pre-stored fitting selections; and

receiving a selected fitting from said server via said data network interface; and

outputting said selected fitting to said relay interface.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving a user input comprises:

receiving an adjustment to at least one fitting parameter of said implantable hearing instrument.