Implantable satellite effectors
First Claim
1. A medical apparatus comprising:
- a carrier unit configured for insertion into a subject'"'"'s body;
a bus having at least one conduction path, at least a part of which is insulated from the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is inserted into the subject'"'"'s body; and
a plurality of satellite units located along the carrier and connected to the bus, wherein each satellite unit includesone or more effectors that interact with the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is inserted into the subject'"'"'s body, andsatellite circuitry that is coupled to the bus, wherein the satellite circuitry is structured toreceive power over the bus,receive a bit sequence over the bus,store information based on the bit sequence; and
receive a sleep command over the bus that causes a certain part of the control circuitry within that satellite circuitry to turn off while electrodes coupled to the control circuitry remain in a configured state.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject'"'"'s body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A medical apparatus comprising:
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a carrier unit configured for insertion into a subject'"'"'s body; a bus having at least one conduction path, at least a part of which is insulated from the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is inserted into the subject'"'"'s body; and a plurality of satellite units located along the carrier and connected to the bus, wherein each satellite unit includes one or more effectors that interact with the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is inserted into the subject'"'"'s body, and satellite circuitry that is coupled to the bus, wherein the satellite circuitry is structured to receive power over the bus, receive a bit sequence over the bus, store information based on the bit sequence; and receive a sleep command over the bus that causes a certain part of the control circuitry within that satellite circuitry to turn off while electrodes coupled to the control circuitry remain in a configured state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification