Telemetry system power control for implantable medical devices
First Claim
1. In a system comprising an implantable medical device and an external programmer, the implantable medical device having a transmitter for transmitting telemetry signals between the implantable medical device and the external programmer and a receiver for receiving telemetry signals transmitted from the external programmer, the transmitter having a power level, the implantable medical device including means for adjusting the transmitter power level, the telemetry signals having a signal strength, the programmer including means for receiving and transmitting telemetry signals between the programmer and the implantable medical device, means for generating a power control signal, and means for determining the strength of the telemetry signals received by the programmer, a method of controlling the transmitter power of the implantable medical device comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring the strength of the telemetry signals received by the programmer;
(b) generating a power control signal, by the programmer, as a function of the measured signal strength;
(c) transmitting the power control signal to the implantable medical device; and
(d) adjusting the transmitter power of the implantable medical device to a power level as a function of the power control signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
During the telemetering of telemetry signals between an implantable medical device and an external programmer, the transmitter power of the implantable device is dynamically adjusted. The programmer measures the strength of the telemetry signals transmitted by the implantable device. A power control signal is generated as a function of the measured signal strength, and the transmitter power of the implantable device is set to a power level specified by the power control signal. For example, if the measured signal strength falls below a predetermined minimum signal strength threshold, power must be increased. This process is repeated until the measured signal strength satisfies a predetermined signal strength condition.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a system comprising an implantable medical device and an external programmer, the implantable medical device having a transmitter for transmitting telemetry signals between the implantable medical device and the external programmer and a receiver for receiving telemetry signals transmitted from the external programmer, the transmitter having a power level, the implantable medical device including means for adjusting the transmitter power level, the telemetry signals having a signal strength, the programmer including means for receiving and transmitting telemetry signals between the programmer and the implantable medical device, means for generating a power control signal, and means for determining the strength of the telemetry signals received by the programmer, a method of controlling the transmitter power of the implantable medical device comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the strength of the telemetry signals received by the programmer; (b) generating a power control signal, by the programmer, as a function of the measured signal strength; (c) transmitting the power control signal to the implantable medical device; and (d) adjusting the transmitter power of the implantable medical device to a power level as a function of the power control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable medical device for use with and in telemetry communication with an external programmer, the implantable medical device transmitting telemetry signals, the telemetry signals having a signal strength, and the external programmer transmitting a power control signal to the implantable medical device as a function of the signal strength, the implantable medical device comprising:
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a biocompatible housing containing circuitry generating implantable device signals suitable for implanting in body tissue; transmitter means for transmitting telemetry signals corresponding to implantable medical device signals at a power level; receiver means for receiving a power control signal from the external programmer; and processing means for adjusting the power level of the transmitter means in response to the power control signal, wherein the power control signal is a function of the signal strength of the telemetry signals received by the programmer, wherein the transmitter means, the receiver means and the processing means are housed within the biocompatible housing. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An external programmer for use and in telemetry communication with an implantable medical device, the implantable medical device having a first transmitter means for transmitting telemetry signals having a signal strength at adjustable power levels and a first receiver means for receiving command signals, wherein the implantable medical device has a first processing means that varies the power level of the first transmitter as a function of the received command signal, the programmer for controlling the transmitter power level of the implantable medical device, the programmer comprising:
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second receiver means for receiving telemetry signals from the implantable medical device; means for measuring the signal strength of the received telemetry signals; second processing means for generating a command signal as a function of the signal strength of the telemetry signals received from the implantable device; and second transmitter means for transmitting the command signal to the implantable device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for controlling a power level of telemetry signals between an implantable medical device and an external programmer, the system comprising an implantable medical device and an external programmer, the implantable medical device comprising:
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first transmitter means for transmitting telemetry signals having controllable power level; first receiver means for receiving command signals from the external programmer; and processor means for controlling the power level of the first transmitter means as a function of the command signals, said telemetry signals having a signal strength; and the external programmer comprising; second receiver means for receiving telemetry signals from the implantable medical device, wherein the telemetry signals have a signal strength; means for generating the command signals as a function of the received telemetry signals; and second transmitter means for transmitting the command signals to the implantable medical device, the command signals indicating that the first transmitter means power level is to be increased or decreased as a function of the signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In a system comprising an implantable medical device and an external programmer, the implantable medical device having a transmitter for transmitting telemetry signals between the implantable medical device and the external programmer, the transmitter having a controllable power level, the implantable medical device further having a receiver for receiving telemetry signals transmitted from the external programmer, the implantable medical device including means for generating a power control signal and means for adjusting the transmitter power level, the telemetry signals having a signal strength, the programmer including means for receiving and transmitting telemetry signals between the programmer and the implantable medical device and means for determining the strength of the telemetry signals received by the programmer, a method of controlling the transmitter power level of the transmitter of the implantable medical device comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the strength of the telemetry signals received by the programmer, thereby creating a strength measurement signal; (b) transmitting the strength measurement signal to the implantable medical device (c) generating a power control signal, by the implantable medical device, as a function of the received strength measurement signal; and (d) adjusting the transmitter power level of the transmitter of the implantable medical device as a function of the power control signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification