Radiation-based timer for implantable medical devices
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device comprising:
- a radiation-based timer that includes;
a radiation source that emits radiation particles during radioactive decay;
at least one radiation detection element capable of detecting radiation particles; and
a counter that tracks a number of radiation particles detected by the at least one radiation detection element,wherein the radiation-based timer generates a timer signal upon the number of detected radiation particles exceeding a threshold value;
at least one other component that uses the timer signal to perform a function;
at least one external radiation detection element that detects radiation particles emitted from an external radiation source and does not detect radiation particles emitted from the radiation source of the radiation-based timer;
a second timer that generates a second timer signal that is less affected by the external radiation source than the timer signal of the radiation-based timer,wherein the radiation-based timer determines that the timer signal is unreliable based on the external radiation detection element, andwherein the at least one other component does not use the timer signal upon the radiation-based timer determining that the timer signal is unreliable and uses the second timer signal in response to determining the timer signal of the radiation-based timer is unreliable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiation-based timer for use in an implantable medical device (IMD) includes a radiation source and a radiation detection circuit. The radiation source emits radiation particles during a process referred to as radioactive decay. The radiation detection circuit detects the radiation particles emitted during the decay process and tracks the number of radiation particles detected. When the number of radiation particles detected reaches a threshold value, a timer signal is generated. In this manner, the radiation-based timer generates a timer signal as a function of the radioactive decay of the radiation source. The timer signal may be used by one or more components of the IMD for any of a number of functions, including as a wakeup trigger for a communications and/or a sensor event.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device comprising:
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a radiation-based timer that includes; a radiation source that emits radiation particles during radioactive decay; at least one radiation detection element capable of detecting radiation particles; and a counter that tracks a number of radiation particles detected by the at least one radiation detection element, wherein the radiation-based timer generates a timer signal upon the number of detected radiation particles exceeding a threshold value; at least one other component that uses the timer signal to perform a function; at least one external radiation detection element that detects radiation particles emitted from an external radiation source and does not detect radiation particles emitted from the radiation source of the radiation-based timer; a second timer that generates a second timer signal that is less affected by the external radiation source than the timer signal of the radiation-based timer, wherein the radiation-based timer determines that the timer signal is unreliable based on the external radiation detection element, and wherein the at least one other component does not use the timer signal upon the radiation-based timer determining that the timer signal is unreliable and uses the second timer signal in response to determining the timer signal of the radiation-based timer is unreliable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An implantable medical device comprising:
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a radiation-based timer that includes; a radiation source that emits radiation particles during radioactive decay; at least one radiation detection element capable of detecting radiation particles; and a counter that tracks a number of radiation particles detected by the at least one radiation detection element, wherein the radiation-based timer generates a timer signal upon the number of detected radiation particles exceeding a threshold value; at least one other component that uses the timer signal to perform a function; and at least one external radiation detection element that detects radiation particles emitted from an external radiation source and does not detect radiation particles emitted from the radiation source of the radiation-based timer, wherein the radiation-based timer determines that the timer signal is unreliable based on the external radiation detection element, wherein the at least one other component wakes up from a low power state to a powered up state in response to determining the timer signal of the radiation-based timer is unreliable and remains in the powered up state until the timer signal of the radiation-based timer becomes reliable and does not use the timer signal upon the radiation-based timer determining that the timer signal is unreliable.
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15. A method comprising:
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detecting, with at least one radiation detection element, radiation particles emitted from a radiation source of a radiation-based timer during radioactive decay; tracking a number of radiation particles detected by the at least one radiation detection element; generating a timer signal upon the number of detected radiation particles exceeding a threshold value; detecting radiation particles emitted from an external radiation source with an external radiation detection element that does not detect radiation particles emitted from the radiation source of the radiation-based timer; generating a second timer signal that is less affected by the external radiation source than the timer signal of the radiation-based timer; determining that the timer signal is unreliable based on the external radiation detection element; using the timer signal of the radiation-based timer until it is determined that the timer signal is unreliable; and using the second timer signal in response to determining the timer signal of the radiation-based timer is unreliable. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An implantable medical device comprising:
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means for detecting radiation particles emitted from a radiation source of a radiation-based timer during radioactive decay; means for tracking a number of radiation particles detected by the at least one radiation detection element; means for generating a timer signal upon the number of detected radiation particles exceeding a threshold value; means for detecting radiation particles emitted from an external radiation source with an external radiation detection element that does not detect radiation particles emitted from the radiation source of the radiation-based timer; means for generating a second timer signal that is less affected by the external radiation source than the timer signal of the radiation-based timer; means for determining that the timer signal is unreliable based on the external radiation detection element; at least one component that uses the timer signal of the radiation-based timer until it is determined that the timer signal is unreliable and, in response to determining the timer signal of the radiation-based timer is unreliable, uses the second timer signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification