RF telemetry link for establishment and maintenance of communications with an implantable device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical system comprising:
- an external device having means for generating and transmitting an RF signal; and
an implantable device, the implantable device comprisingan implantable antenna,an implantable receiver coupled to the implantable antenna, said implantable receiver being adapted to receive the RF signal,means for controlling the implantable receiver so that the implantable receiver operates in one of a detect mode, a receive mode, or a full data transfer mode, andmeans for controlling the implantable device in response to data and commands contained within the received RF signal,wherein during the detect mode the implantable receiver is OFF for a time period T1 and ON for a time period T2, where T2 is much shorter than T1, andwherein during the receive mode the implantable receiver is OFF for a time period T3 and ON for a time period T2, where T2 is less than T3, and T3 is less than T1, andwherein during the full data transfer mode the receiver is ON all the time;
whereby an RF telemetry link is established between the external device and the implantable device through which RF signals may be sent to the implantable device from the external device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Communication between an implantable device(s), such as a neural stimulator, and an external remote device(s), e.g., a computer in a clinician'"'"'s office, a computer in a patient'"'"'s home, or a handheld patient remote control, is performed entirely via an RF link. In order to conserve power, the RF telemetry system of the implant is only activated periodically; with the period of activation being sufficiently short so as to allow a reasonably prompt response of the implant to a request for a communication session by the external device. In order to assure reliable communication, the RF information may be encoded, as appropriate, with error correction codes.
126 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical system comprising:
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an external device having means for generating and transmitting an RF signal; and an implantable device, the implantable device comprising an implantable antenna, an implantable receiver coupled to the implantable antenna, said implantable receiver being adapted to receive the RF signal, means for controlling the implantable receiver so that the implantable receiver operates in one of a detect mode, a receive mode, or a full data transfer mode, and means for controlling the implantable device in response to data and commands contained within the received RF signal, wherein during the detect mode the implantable receiver is OFF for a time period T1 and ON for a time period T2, where T2 is much shorter than T1, and wherein during the receive mode the implantable receiver is OFF for a time period T3 and ON for a time period T2, where T2 is less than T3, and T3 is less than T1, and wherein during the full data transfer mode the receiver is ON all the time; whereby an RF telemetry link is established between the external device and the implantable device through which RF signals may be sent to the implantable device from the external device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A medical system comprising:
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an external device having means for generating and transmitting an RF signal; and an implantable device, the implantable device having an implantable antenna, an implantable receiver coupled to the implantable antenna, said implantable receiver being adapted to receive the RF signal transmitted by the external device, and means for controlling the implantable receiver so that it operates in one of a detect mode or a receive mode, wherein during the detect mode the implantable receiver is OFF for a time period T1 and ON for a time period T2, where T2 is much shorter than T1, and wherein during the receive mode the implantable receiver is OFF for a time period T3 and ON for a time period T2, where T2 is less than T3, and T3 is less than T1, whereby an RF telemetry link is established between the external device and the implantable device through which RF signals may be sent to the implantable device from the external device during the time period T2.
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8. An implantable medical device comprising:
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an implantable antenna, an implantable receiver coupled to the implantable antenna, said implantable receiver being adapted to receive an externally-generated RF signal, means for controlling the implantable device in response to data and commands contained within the received RF signal, means for controlling the implantable receiver so that it operates in one of a detect mode or a receive mode, wherein during the detect mode the implantable receiver is OFF for a time period T1 and ON for a time period T2, where T2 is much shorter than T1, and wherein during the receive mode the implantable receiver is OFF for a time period T3 and ON for a time period T2, where T2 is less than T3, and T3 is less than T1. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for establishing and maintaining an RF communications link between an external device and an implantable device, the external device having means for generating and transmitting an RF signal;
- the implantable device having an implantable antenna coupled to an implantable receiver;
the method comprising steps for;initiating a detect mode within the implantable device wherein the implantable receiver is sequentially turned OFF and ON, wherein during the detect mode the ON time of the implantable receiver is much shorter than the OFF time of the implantable receiver; initiating a receive mode within the implantable device whenever an RF signal is detected during the ON time of the implantable receiver, wherein during the receive mode the implantable receiver is sequentially turned OFF and ON, wherein the OFF time of the implantable receiver during the receive mode is much shorter than the OFF time of the implantable receiver during the detect mode; and sending RF communication signals to the implantable device during the ON time of the implantable receiver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- the implantable device having an implantable antenna coupled to an implantable receiver;
Specification