Implantable device with optical telemetry
First Claim
1. An implantable device capable of supporting a high-bandwidth optical communications link with an external device, wherein the implantable device comprises:
- a memory configured to store data for later retrieval;
a photo-emitter configured to generate light having a transmission frequency;
a modulator coupled to receive data from the memory and configured to convert the data into an electrical signal for driving the photo-emitter;
a receiver coil configured to generate an induced current in response to a communication signal from the external device;
a current sensor configured to detect the induced current in the receiver coil and to convert the induced current into a detected signal;
a demodulator coupled to the current sensor to receive the detected signal and configured to convert the detected signal into an operational signal for the implantable device; and
a microprocessor coupled to the demodulator and the memory, wherein the microprocessor receives the operational signal from the demodulator, collects the data for transmission to the external device, and stores the collected data in the memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for optically communicating with an implantable device. In one embodiment, the system includes an implantable device having a large memory and an external unit which downloads information from the memory for analysis and display. The implantable device includes a light-emitting diode (LED) and a modulator for driving the LED. Although various frequencies can be used, frequencies which experience relatively little attenuation through body tissue are presently preferred. The external device includes a photo-multiplier tube (PMT) and a demodulator for equalizing and demodulating the detection signal produced by the PMT in response to detected light. A high bandwidth channel (perhaps as much as 500 Mbits/sec) is created by these components. This channel advantageously allows for a substantially reduced download time.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An implantable device capable of supporting a high-bandwidth optical communications link with an external device, wherein the implantable device comprises:
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a memory configured to store data for later retrieval;
a photo-emitter configured to generate light having a transmission frequency;
a modulator coupled to receive data from the memory and configured to convert the data into an electrical signal for driving the photo-emitter;
a receiver coil configured to generate an induced current in response to a communication signal from the external device;
a current sensor configured to detect the induced current in the receiver coil and to convert the induced current into a detected signal;
a demodulator coupled to the current sensor to receive the detected signal and configured to convert the detected signal into an operational signal for the implantable device; and
a microprocessor coupled to the demodulator and the memory, wherein the microprocessor receives the operational signal from the demodulator, collects the data for transmission to the external device, and stores the collected data in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for transcutaneous communication, wherein the system comprises:
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an implantable device which includes;
a memory configured to store data for later retrieval;
a photo-emitter configured to generate light in response to a modulated signal, wherein the photo-emitter generates light in a frequency range;
an implantable device modulator coupled to receive data from the memory and configured to convert the data into the modulated signal for driving the photo-emitter;
a receiver coil configured to generate an induced current in response to a changing magnetic field, wherein the induced current is representative of a communication signal;
a current sensor configured to detect the induced current in the receiver coil and to convert the induced current into an internal detected signal;
an implantable device demodulator coupled to receive the internal detected signal from the current sensor and configured to convert the internal detected signal into an operational signal for the implantable device;
an external unit which includes;
a photo-multiplier configured to detect light emitted by the photo-emitter and configured to responsively generate an external detection signal;
an external unit demodulator coupled to the photo-multiplier to receive the external detection signal and configured to convert the external detection signal into a data signal;
a display coupled to the external unit demodulator to receive the data signal and configured to produce an output display representative of the data signal;
an external unit microprocessor configured to generate the communication signal;
an external unit modulator coupled to receive the communication signal from the external unit microprocessor and configured to generate a modulated communication signal; and
a transmitter coil coupled to the external unit modulator and driven by the modulated communication signal, the transmitter coil configured to produce the changing magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
a power converter coupled to the receiver coil to convert the induced current into energy; and
a capacitor coupled to the power converter to receive and store the energy, and configured to supply the energy to the implantable device modulator for conversion into the modulated signal.
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14. A method for transcutaneous communication to an external device, wherein the method comprises:
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retrieving stored data from a memory in an implanted device;
converting the stored data into a modulation signal;
applying the modulation signal to a photo-emitter to produce light;
positioning a photo-multiplier tube to detect the light;
converting the light into a detection signal;
demodulating the detection signal to reproduce the stored data;
generating a programming signal in the external device;
driving a signaling coil with the programming signal;
inducing a current in a receiving coil in the implanted device;
converting the induced current into stored energy on a capacitor; and
using the stored energy to produce the modulation signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
demodulating the induced current into program data; and
storing the program data in the memory in the implanted device.
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17. A system to provide optical communications, comprising:
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an implantable device that includes;
a memory that stores information;
a light-emitting diode (LED) that emits the information;
a modulator to drive the LED so as to emit a modulated light signal;
a receiver coil that induces currents in response to a changing magnetic field; and
a power converter coupled to the receiver coil to convert the currents into energy for powering the LED;
an external device that includes;
a photo-multiplier tube to detect the modulated light signal;
a demodulator to demodulate the modulated light signal to obtain the information, wherein the LED, the modulator, the photo-multiplier tube, and the demodulator are adapted to support optical communications; and
a transmitter coil configured to produce the changing magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A system to provide communications, comprising:
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an implantable device that includes;
an implantable transmitter that transmits information;
an implantable receiver that receives commands;
an external device that includes;
an external transmitter that transmits the commands; and
an external receiver that receives the information, wherein the implantable receiver receives and the external transmitter transmits via an inductive link, and the implantable transmitter transmits and the external receiver receives via an optical link. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A programmer that supports high bandwidth communications, comprising:
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a microprocessor that presents a command;
a modulator that converts the command to a modulated signal;
a transmit coil that changes a magnetic field in response to the modulated signal;
a demodulator that demodulates a detection signal to form information; and
a light sensor that presents the detection signal to the demodulator, wherein the light sensor includes an enabling signal to enable detection of a modulated light signal to produce the detection signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A telemetry module in an implantable device, comprising:
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an implant receiver coil that produces a current responsive to a modulated signal;
a current sensor that senses the current and produces the modulated signal;
a demodulator that demodulates the modulated signal to produce a signal;
a microprocessor receptive to the signal to produce a response;
a power converter that converts the current into energy and stores the energy;
a modulator to modulate the response to form a modulated response; and
a light source to emit light with a frequency so as to transmit the modulated response to a desired destination. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification