Method for controlling telemetry in an implantable medical device based on power source capacity

• US 7,587,241 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Marnfeldt, Goran N., Parramon, Jordi
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US11/534,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 607 1- 5, 607/9, 607 34- 36, 607 55- 57, 607 60- 61, 128/899, 174/52.3
• US Class Current: 607/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45144 Gold (Au) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45147 Copper (Cu) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48465 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area being a wedge bond, i.e. ball-to-wedge, regular stitch
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49175 Parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00011 Not relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01005 Boron [B]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01033 Arsenic [As]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1461 : MEMS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19105 : in a side-by-side arrangement on a common die mounting substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19107 : off-chip wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 : Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/30111 : matching
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 : using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 : using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/02 : Amplitude-modulated carrier systems, e.g. using on-off keying; Single sideband or vestigial sideband modulation H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 : Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 : Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49071 : by winding or coiling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49073 : by assembling coil and core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 : Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 : Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 : Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 : Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 : by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 : Metal fusion joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12264 : having outward flange, gripping means or interlocking feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12271 : having discrete fastener, marginal fastening, taper, or end structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12347 : Plural layers discontinuously bonded [e.g., spot-weld, mechanical fastener, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12375 : having member which crosses the plane of another member [e.g., T or X cross section, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12396 : Discontinuous surface component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12535 : with additional, spatially distinct nonmetal component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12806 : Refractory [Group IVB, VB, or VIB] metal-base component

Abstract

A method for controlling an implantable medical device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a voltage of a power source within the implantable medical device is monitored. If this voltage is above a first threshold, the implantable medical device enables the following functions: it listens for a first type of telemetry from a first external component; it listens for a second type of telemetry from an external charging component; and it provides stimulation to device electrodes using the power source. By contrast, if the power source voltage falls below the first threshold, the implant discontinues listening for the first type of telemetry from the first external component and discontinues providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source, but continues to listen for the second type of telemetry.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an implantable medical device, comprising:

monitoring a voltage of a power source within the implantable medical device;

if the voltage is above a first threshold, enabling the following functions;

listening for a first type of telemetry from a first external component;

listening for a second type of telemetry from an external charging component, wherein the external charging component is used to wirelessly charge the power source; and

providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source; and

if the voltage falls below the first threshold, discontinuing listening for the first type of telemetry from the first external component and discontinuing providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source, while continuing listening for the second type of telemetry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first telemetry type comprises Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), and wherein the second telemetry type comprises On/Off Keying (OOK).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold is stored in a first register in the implantable medical device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising if the voltage later exceeds the first threshold after falling below the first threshold, resuming listening for the first telemetry type and resuming providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the voltage falls below the first threshold, and later falls below a second threshold lower than the first threshold, discontinuing listening for the first telemetry type and discontinuing providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source until the device is recharged.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a lithium ion battery.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first external component and the external charging component are the same component.

8. A method for controlling an implantable medical device, comprising:

monitoring a voltage of a power source within the implantable medical device;

if the voltage is above a first threshold, enabling the following functions;

listening for a first type of telemetry from a first external component, wherein the first external component is used to program stimulation parameters for the implantable medical device;

listening for a second type of telemetry from an external charging component, wherein the external charging component is used to wirelessly charge the power source; and

providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source and in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and

if the voltage falls below the first threshold, discontinuing listening for the first telemetry type and discontinuing providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source, while continuing listening for the second telemetry type so that the power source can be recharged.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first telemetry type comprises Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), and wherein the second telemetry type comprises On/Off Keying (OOK).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first threshold is stored in a first register in the implantable medical device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising if the voltage later exceeds the first threshold after falling below the first threshold, resuming listening for the first telemetry type and resuming providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

if the voltage falls below the first threshold, and later falls below a second threshold lower than the first threshold, discontinuing listening for the first telemetry type and discontinuing providing stimulation to device electrodes using the power source until the device is recharged.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the power source comprises a lithium ion battery.

14. A method for controlling an implantable medical device that provides therapy to a patient, comprising:

monitoring a voltage of a power source within the implantable medical device;

if the voltage is above a first threshold, enabling the following functions;

listening for a first type of telemetry from a first external component;

listening for a second type of telemetry from an external charging component, wherein the external charging component is used to wirelessly charge the power source; and

providing therapy to the patient; and

if the voltage falls below the first threshold, discontinuing listening for the first type of telemetry from the first external component and discontinuing providing therapy to the patient, while continuing listening for the second type of telemetry.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first telemetry type comprises Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), and wherein the second telemetry type comprises On/Off Keying (OOK).

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first threshold is stored in a first register in the implantable medical device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising if the voltage later exceeds the first threshold after falling below the first threshold, resuming listening for the first telemetry type and resuming providing therapy to the patient.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if the voltage falls below the first threshold, and later falls below a second threshold lower than the first threshold, discontinuing listening for the first telemetry type and discontinuing providing therapy to the patient until the device is recharged.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the power source comprises a lithium ion battery.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first external component and the external charging component are the same component.