System of implantable devices for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters

• US 6,315,721 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research, Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Schulman, Joseph H., Mann, Carla M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Assistant Examiner(s): DROESCH, KRISTEN L
• Application Number:
  US09/754,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 600/2, 600/300-302, 600/316, 600/377-378, 607/30, 607/32-33, 607/59-62, 607/117-118, 607/1, 607/48, 607/53, 607/54, 128/897-899, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/72 Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5058 having means for restoring the perception of senses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system for monitoring and/or affecting parameters of a patient'"'"'s body and more particularly to such a system comprised of a system control unit (SCU) and one or more other devices, preferably battery-powered, implanted in the patient'"'"'s body, i.e., within the envelope defined by the patient'"'"'s skin. Each such implanted device is configured to be monitored and/or controlled by the SCU via a wireless communication channel. In accordance with the invention, the SCU comprises a programmable unit capable of (1) transmitting commands to at least some of a plurality of implanted devices and (2) receiving data signal from at least some of those implanted devices. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the system operates in closed loop fashion whereby the commands transmitted by the SCU are dependent, in part, on the content of the data signals received by the SCU. In accordance with the invention, a preferred SCU is similarly implemented as a device capable of being implanted beneath a patient'"'"'s skin, preferably having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm. Wireless communication between the SCU and the implanted devices is preferably implemented via a modulated sound signal, AC magnetic field, RF signal, or electric conduction.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and affecting parameters of a patient'"'"'s body, said system comprising:

a plurality of addressable devices each comprised of a housing having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm and configured for injection into said patient'"'"'s body;

each of said addressable devices including a battery having a capacity of at least one microwatt-hour, an input/output electrode, controllable circuitry for supplying a drive signal to said electrode, means storing an identification address, and signal transmitter/receiver means;

a system control unit configured for implantation in said patient'"'"'s body, said control unit including means for transmitting commands to said device transmitter/receiver means for controlling said controllable circuitry, said commands including address information specifying the identification address of one or more of said devices and parameter information for controlling operating parameters of the controllable circuitry in the identified devices;

said system control unit including controller means responsive to data signals transmitted by said addressable device for controlling said commands transmitted by said system control unit; and

a power supply contained in said system control unit having a capacity of at least one watt-hour for supplying operating power to said control unit transmitting means and controller means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control unit further includes storage means storing a program defining a sequence of operations;

and wherein

said controller means comprises a programmable controller operable to execute the sequence of operations defined by said program.

3. The system of claim 2 further including a programmer disposed external to said patient'"'"'s body for producing program information;

and

means responsive to said externally produced program information for modifying the content of said storage means.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said program storage means includes an alterable portion and a nonalterable portion;

and wherein

said nonalterable portion stores a default program.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said means responsive to said program information includes means for producing a modulated alternating magnetic field.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said system control unit power supply comprises a battery;

and further including;

an internal coil and a charging circuit for supplying a charging current to said battery.

7. The system of claim 6 further including means for generating an alternating magnetic field outside of said patient'"'"'s body for supplying energy to said charging circuit via said internal coil.