Bidirectional telemetry apparatus and method for implantable device
First Claim
1. A method for establishing telemetry communication from an implantable device to an external device, comprising:
- determining a particular optimum frequency within a predetermined frequency range, at which ambient electromagnetic noise from extraneous sources is at a low level;
transmitting from the implantable device a predetermined start signal, at a succession of frequencies within the predetermined frequency range;
tuning a receiver of the external device to the optimum frequency and monitoring received signals until the predetermined start signal has been received; and
conditioning the implantable device, upon receipt by the external device of the predetermined start signal, to stop transmitting the start signal and to maintain its current frequency for further communications.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved telemetry system for telemetering data from an implantable device such as a heart pacemaker to an external device with minimum energy consumption. The external device first sweeps its receiver across a predetermined frequency band, e.g., the fm broadcast band of 88 MHz to 108 MHz, to determine the particular frequency having the lowest ambient electromagnetic noise level, which it deems the optimum frequency for the telemetry to occur. The external device'"'"'s transmitter then commands the pacemaker to telemeter a predetermined start signal at a succession of frequencies that sweep across that same frequency band, while the external device'"'"'s receiver remains tuned to the optimum frequency. Eventually, the external devices receiver will receive the start signal and the external device thereupon will command the pacemaker to thereafter remain at its current frequency for the subsequent telemetry of data. Thus, the pacemaker is effectively tuned to the optimum frequency without the need for the pacemaker to incorporate an elaborate frequency synthesizer and without the need to draw excessive energy from the limited supply available so as to overcome interference at the operating frequency.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for establishing telemetry communication from an implantable device to an external device, comprising:
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determining a particular optimum frequency within a predetermined frequency range, at which ambient electromagnetic noise from extraneous sources is at a low level; transmitting from the implantable device a predetermined start signal, at a succession of frequencies within the predetermined frequency range; tuning a receiver of the external device to the optimum frequency and monitoring received signals until the predetermined start signal has been received; and conditioning the implantable device, upon receipt by the external device of the predetermined start signal, to stop transmitting the start signal and to maintain its current frequency for further communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for transmitting data between an implantable device and an external device, wherein the implantable device includes a transmitter and a receiver that operate at a selectable frequency located within a predetermined frequency range, and wherein the external device also includes a transmitter and a receiver that operate at a selectable frequency located within the same predetermined frequency range, comprising:
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determining a particular optimum frequency within the predetermined frequency range at which ambient electromagnetic noise from extraneous sources is at a low level; commanding the transmitter of the implantable device to transmit a predetermined start signal at a succession of frequencies within the predetermined frequency range; tuning the receiver of the external device to the optimum frequency and monitoring the received signal until the predetermined start signal has been received, indicating that the transmitter of the implantable device is transmitting at the optimum frequency; and commanding the transmitter of the implantable device to transmit data at the frequency in use at the time the receiver of the external device has received the predetermined start signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Telemetry apparatus comprising:
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an implantable device including a transmitter and a receiver that operate at a selectable frequency located within a predetermined frequency range; and an external device including a transmitter and a receiver that operate at a selectable frequency within the predetermined frequency range; wherein the external device includes first means for sweeping the frequency of its receiver through the predetermined frequency range and for determining a particular optimum frequency at which ambient electromagnetic noise from extraneous sources is at a low level; wherein the external device further second means for causing its transmitter to transmit a command to the implantable device, to command the transmitter of the implantable device to transmit a predetermined start signal at a succession of frequencies within the predetermined frequency range, while the receiver of the external device remains tuned to the optimum frequency, awaiting receipt of the predetermined start signal; and wherein the external device further includes third means for causing the transmitter of the external device, upon receipt of the predetermined start signal by the receiver of the external device, to transmit a command to the implantable device, to command the transmitter of the implantable device to thereafter transmit data at the frequency then in use. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification