Device for non-invasive programming of implanted body stimulators

• US 4,024,875 A
• Filed: 09/19/1975
• Issued: 05/24/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Putzke, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/614,794
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 C, 128/419 E, 128/419 PG, 128/419 PT, 128/419 R, 128/421, 128/422, 128/423, 128/2.1 A
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry

Abstract

A device for the non-invasive programming of an implantable body stimulator. The device includes a power supply and circuitry for generating and transmitting a preselected number of pulses of radio frequency energy. A push-button switch initiates the operation of the pulse-generating circuitry and the power supply is enabled only during an interval of predetermined duration following the initiating of operation of the pulse-generating circuitry. In a preferred embodiment, the power supply includes a power source, such as batteries, and a voltage regulator for establishing a substantially constant supply voltage for all power source voltages above a preselected level. The device may include circuitry for indicating the establishment of the substantially constant supply voltage as well as circuitry for preventing the transmission of any programming pulses upon a failure to establish the substantially constant supply voltage level. The transmitted pulses may be employed to alter an output parameter of any implanted body stimulator and is described with reference to an alteration in the repetition rate of an implanted cardiac pacemaker.

Claims

1. In a device for programming an implantable body stimulator through transmitted pulses of radio frequency energy of the type having power supply means, means powered by said power supply means for generating a preselected transmitted signal of radio frequency energy and means for initiating the operation of said generating means, the improvement which comprises means responsive to said initiating means for enabling said power supply means during an interval of predetermined duration following the initiating of operation of said generating means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said power supply means comprises power source means and voltage regulator means for establishing a substantially constant supply voltage output level for all power source means output voltage levels above a preselected level, said enabling means comprising means for enabling said voltage regulator means.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising means for indicating the establishment of said substantially constant supply voltage output level.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises means for producing a preselected number of control pulses and means responsive to said control pulses for transmitting a pulse of radio frequency energy on the occurrence of each control pulse, said initiating means comprising means for initiating the operation of said control pulse producing means.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said power supply means comprises power source means and voltage regulator means for establishing a substantially constant supply voltage output level for all power source means output voltage levels above a preselected level, said enabling means comprising means for enabling said voltage regulator means.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising:

means for producing a signal indicative of the establishment of said substantially constant supply voltage output level; and

means for blocking said control pulses from said transmitting means in the absence of said supply voltage output level establishment signal.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said means for producing a signal indicative of the establishment of said substantially constant supply voltage output level comprises means for maintaining the supply voltage output level establishment signal throughout said interval.

8. The device of claim 4 further comprising means for blocking said control pulses from said transmitting means when the output voltage level of said power supply means is lower than a predetermined level at the time of initiating the operation of said control pulse producing means.

9. The device of claim 4 further comprising means for gating said control pulses to said transmitting means throughout said interval when the output voltage level of said power supply means at least equals a predetermined level at the time of initiating the operation of said control pulse producing means.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for disabling said generating means when the output voltage level of said power supply means is lower than a predetermined level at the time of initiating the operation of said generating means.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for enabling said generating means only after the output voltage level of said power supply means at least equals a predetermined level.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said enabling means comprises means for enabling said generating means throughout said interval without regard to power supply means output voltage levels subsequent to, and lower than, a power supply means output voltage level at least equal to said predetermined level.

13. A device for programming an implantable body stimulator having at least one alterable output characteristic and means responsive to transmitted pulses of radio frequency energy for altering said output characteristic in predetermined correspondence with the number of said transmitted pulses, said device comprising:

power source means;

voltage regulator means for establishing a substantially constant supply voltage output level for all power source means output voltage levels above a predetermined level;

means powered by said voltage regulator means for producing a preselected number of control pulses;

means powered by said voltage regulator means and responsive to said control pulses for transmitting a pulse of radio frequency energy on the occurrence of each control pulse;

means for enabling said voltage regulator means and initiating the operation of said control pulse producing means; and

means responsive to the establishing of said substantially constant supply voltage output level for gating said control pulses to said transmitting means only after enabling of said voltage regulator means and the establishment of said substantially constant supply voltage output level.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising means for disabling said voltage regulator means after a predetermined period of time following initiating the operation of said control pulse producing means.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said enabling and initiating means comprises switch means, said device further comprising no bounce means interconnecting said switch means and said control pulse producing means.

16. The device of claim 15 further comprising means for indicating the establishment of said substantially constant supply voltage output level.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein said means for gating comprises:

means for producing a signal indicative of the establishment of said substantially constant supply voltage output level; and

means enabled by said output level establishment signal, and operative throughout said predetermined period of time, for passing all of said control pulses subsequent to said output level establishment signal to said transmitting means.

18. The device of claim 13 wherein said gating means comprises:

means for producing a signal indicative of the establishment of said substantially constant supply voltage output level; and

means for blocking all of said control pulses from said transmitting means until the occurrence of said output level establishment signal.