Systems and methods for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator

• US 8,386,048 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• 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: McClure, Kelly H., Loftin, Scott M., Ozawa, Robert D., Fister, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): STOKLOSA, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US11/034,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,968 Days
• Field of Search: 607/32, 607/33, 607/60, 607/61
• US Class Current: 607/60
• 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 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• 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 1/3787 from an external energy source
• 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

Abstract

An exemplary system for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator includes a coil configured to emit a magnetic field for driving a corresponding circuit in the implantable stimulator and a coil driver circuit configured to drive the coil with a tuning frequency. The coil driver circuit actively adjusts the tuning frequency such that the coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency. An exemplary method of communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator includes driving a coil with a tuning frequency and actively adjusting the tuning frequency such that the coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency. The coil emits a magnetic field used to drive a corresponding circuit in the implantable stimulator.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator, comprising:

a coil configured to emit a magnetic field for driving a corresponding circuit in the implantable stimulator; and

a coil driver circuit comprising an amplifier for receiving a tuning frequency and for driving the coil with the tuning frequency;

wherein the coil driver circuit determines the power output of the coil and the power input to the amplifier, and actively adjusts the tuning frequency in response to a ratio of the output power of the coil to the input power to the amplifier.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tuning frequency is provided to the amplifier by a voltage controlled oscillator adjusted by the coil driver circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the coil driver circuit actively adjusts the tuning frequency such that the ratio is maximized.

4. A method of communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator, the method comprising:

driving a coil with an amplifier operating at a tuning frequency, the coil emitting a magnetic field used to drive a corresponding circuit in the implantable stimulator; and

actively adjusting the tuning frequency in response to a comparison between an output power of the coil and an input power into the amplifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the tuning frequency is actively adjusted by a voltage controlled oscillator.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein actively adjusting the tuning frequency comprises maximizing a ratio of the output power of the coil to the input power into the amplifier.