Method and apparatus for accoustically coupling implantable medical device telemetry data to a telephonic connection
First Claim
1. An apparatus for communicating acoustic telemetry data produced by an implantable medical device over a selectable communication channel, comprising:
- a signal generator, provided in the implantable medical device, that generates a carrier signal;
a modulator, provided in the implantable medical device, that impresses an information signal representative of information acquired or produced by the implantable medical device on the carrier signal so as to produce a modulated information signal; and
a controller coupled to the signal generator to control generation of the carrier signal by the signal generator and to further control generation of the modulated information signal by the modulator in accordance with the channel characteristics of the selectable communication channel; and
a transmitter, provided at the implantable medical device, that transmits the modulated information signal as an acoustic information signal communicable over the selectable communication channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for communicating acoustic telemetry data produced by an implantable medical device over a communication channel includes a signal generator, a modulator, and an acoustic transmitter each provided in the implantable medical device. The modulator modulates a carrier signal with an information signal representative of information acquired or produced by the implantable medical device so as to produce a modulated information signal. The modulated information signal may have a frequency content that is readily accommodated by a public exchange communication channel. The transmitter transmits the modulated information signal as an acoustic information signal in a form communicable over the communication channel. The acoustic information signal may constitute telephonic tones which are directly communicable over a conventional telephone connection. The acoustic information signal may constitute digital telephonic tones each having a frequency and format that conforms to one or more telephony standards. In an embodiment in which the communication channel constitutes a public exchange communication channel, the acoustic information signal preferably has a frequency content that is band limited by an audio bandwidth of the public exchange communication channel. A number of different modulation techniques may be employed, including phase modulation, amplitude modulation or frequency modulation. Implantable medical devices which may incorporate telemetry circuitry of the present invention include a pacemaker, a pacemaker/cardioverter/defibrillator (PCD), an oxygen sensing device, an implantable hemodynamic monitor, a muscle stimulator device or a nerve stimulator device.
198 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for communicating acoustic telemetry data produced by an implantable medical device over a selectable communication channel, comprising:
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a signal generator, provided in the implantable medical device, that generates a carrier signal;
a modulator, provided in the implantable medical device, that impresses an information signal representative of information acquired or produced by the implantable medical device on the carrier signal so as to produce a modulated information signal; and
a controller coupled to the signal generator to control generation of the carrier signal by the signal generator and to further control generation of the modulated information signal by the modulator in accordance with the channel characteristics of the selectable communication channel; and
a transmitter, provided at the implantable medical device, that transmits the modulated information signal as an acoustic information signal communicable over the selectable communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for communicating acoustic telemetry data produced by an implantable medical device over a selectable communication link, comprising:
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a signal generator, provided in the implantable medical device, that generates a carrier signal;
a modulator, provided in the implantable medical device, that modulates the carrier signal using an information signal representative of information acquired or produced by the implantable medical device so as to produce a modulated information signal;
a control circuit coupled to the signal generator to control generation of the modulated information signal to account for the bandwidth of the selectable communication link; and
a transmitter, provided at the implantable medical device, that transmits the modulated information signal as an acoustic information signal communicable over the public exchange communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of communicating acoustic telemetry data produced by an implantable medical device over a selected communication channel, comprising:
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generating, at the implantable medical device, a carrier signal based on the selected communication channel;
modulating, at the implantable medical device, the carrier signal using an information signal representative of information acquired or produced by the implantable medical device based on the selected communication channel; and
transmitting, from the implantable medical device, the modulated information signal as an acoustic information signal communicable over the communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification