Medical devices and systems having separate power sources for enabling different telemetry systems

• US 8,150,529 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snell, Jeffery D., Bornzin, Gene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bays, Pamela M
• Application Number:
  US12/104,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20090264950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 607/27, 607 30- 32, 607/60, 128/903, 128/904
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

An implantable medical device includes a first, short-range telemetry circuit; a second, long-range telemetry circuit; a first power system that powers the first telemetry circuit; and a second power system that powers the second telemetry circuit. The second power system includes an internal charging system and a rechargeable battery coupled to the internal charging system. The internal charging system may be configured for electromagnetic-inductive or RF-transmission coupling with an external charging system. A controller monitors the energy level of the rechargeable battery and provides an signal indicative of the level.

Claims

1. A medical system comprising:

an implantable medical device having a housing, a short-range telemetry circuit within the housing, a long-range telemetry circuit within the housing, other internal circuitry within the housing, a first power system within the housing that powers the short-range telemetry circuit and the other internal circuitry, and a rechargeable second power system within the housing that powers the long-range telemetry circuit; and

an external charging system operative to recharge the second power system.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an external device configured for coupling with one or both of the short-range telemetry circuit and the long-range telemetry circuit.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the external device is configured for inductive coupling with the short-range telemetry circuit.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the external device is configured for RF coupling with the short-range telemetry circuit.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the external device is configured for RF coupling with the long-range telemetry circuit.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the implantable medical device further includes a controller configured to monitor the energy level of the second power system and output a signal related to the energy level for transmission to the external device.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the signal comprises a warning signal when the energy level is below a threshold.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the signal comprises a diagnostic signal indicative of the energy level.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the output signal is operative to generate one of an audio, a visual, or a physically detectable indication.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the output signal is transmitted by one of the first telemetry circuit and the second telemetry circuit to an external device.