Medical device programmer with reduced-noise power supply
First Claim
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1. A programmer for a medical device, the programmer comprising:
- a wireless telemetry circuit adapted to communicate with the medical device;
a boost converter adapted to convert a battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; and
a control circuit adapted to inhibit pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage,wherein the control circuit includes a transistor coupled to transmit the battery voltage to the boost converter when the transistor is ON, wherein the transistor turns OFF when the battery voltage exceeds the threshold voltage.
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Abstract
A programmer for a medical device, such as a neurostimulator, includes a reduced-noise power supply that converts dc power provided by a battery source to power for components within the programmer. The power supply includes a pulse-skipping dc-dc boost converter. The programmer provides an input circuit for selectively inhibiting pulse-skipping to reduce switching noise that could otherwise undermine wireless telemetry performance between the programmer and a medical device.
74 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A programmer for a medical device, the programmer comprising:
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a wireless telemetry circuit adapted to communicate with the medical device; a boost converter adapted to convert a battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; and a control circuit adapted to inhibit pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage, wherein the control circuit includes a transistor coupled to transmit the battery voltage to the boost converter when the transistor is ON, wherein the transistor turns OFF when the battery voltage exceeds the threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A programmer for a medical device, the programmer comprising:
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a wireless telemetry circuit adapted to communicate with the medical device; a boost converter adapted to convert a battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; and a control circuit adapted to inhibit pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage, wherein the control circuit inhibits pulse skipping by the boost converter by limiting the level of the battery voltage applied to the boost converter.
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8. A method for controlling a power supply in a programmer for a medical device, the method comprising:
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applying a battery voltage to a boost converter to convert the battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; inhibiting pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage; and transmitting the battery voltage to the boost converter via a transistor, and turning the transistor OFF when the battery voltage exceeds the threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling a power supply in a programmer for a medical device, the method comprising:
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applying a battery voltage to a boost converter to convert the battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; and inhibiting pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage, wherein inhibiting pulse skipping by the boost converter comprises limiting the level of the battery voltage applied to the boost converter.
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15. A system for controlling a power supply in a programmer for a medical device, the system comprising:
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means for applying a battery voltage to a boost converter to convert the battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; and means for inhibiting pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage, wherein the battery voltage is transmitted to the boost converter via a transistor, the system further comprising means for turning the transistor OFF when the battery voltage exceeds the threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for controlling a power supply in a programmer for a medical device, the system comprising:
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means for applying a battery voltage to a boost converter to convert the battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; means for inhibiting pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage; and means for inhibiting pulse skipping by the boost converter by limiting the level of the battery voltage applied to the boost converter.
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21. A neurostimulation system comprising:
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an implantable neurostimulator; and a programmer for the neurostimulator, the programmer including a wireless telemetry circuit adapted to communicate with the medical device, a boost converter adapted to convert a battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer, wherein the boost converter activates pulse skipping when the operating voltage exceeds a reference voltage, and the boost converter is a fixed-frequency switching mode boost converter, and a control circuit adapted to inhibit pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage, wherein the control circuit is adapted to inhibit pulse skipping by the boost converter by limiting the level of the battery voltage applied to the boost converter.
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22. A neurostimulation system comprising:
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an implantable neurostimulator; a programmer for the neurostimulator, the programmer including a wireless telemetry circuit adapted to communicate with the medical device, a boost converter adapted to convert a battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer, wherein the boost converter activates pulse skipping when the operating voltage exceeds a reference voltage, and the boost converter is a fixed-frequency switching mode boost converter, and a control circuit adapted to inhibit pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage; and a battery source to produce the battery voltage, wherein the battery source includes two or more AAA battery cells, AA battery cells, C battery cells, or D battery cells.
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23. A programmer for a medical device, the programmer comprising:
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a wireless telemetry circuit configured to communicate with the medical device; a fixed-frequency, switching mode boost converter configured to convert a battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer, wherein the boost converter performs pulse skipping when the operating voltage exceeds a reference voltage; and a control circuit configured to limit a level of the battery voltage applied to the boost converter when the battery voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, thereby inhibiting performance of pulse skipping by the boost converter. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method for controlling a power supply in a programmer for a medical device, the method comprising:
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applying a battery voltage to a fixed-frequency, switching mode boost converter to convert the battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer, wherein the boost converter performs pulse skipping when the operating voltage exceeds a reference voltage; and limiting a level of the battery voltage applied to the boost converter when the battery voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, thereby inhibiting performance of pulse skipping by the boost converter. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A device for controlling a power supply in a programmer for a medical device, the device comprising:
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means for applying a battery voltage to a fixed-frequency, switching mode boost converter to convert the battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer, wherein the boost converter performs pulse skipping when the operating voltage exceeds a reference voltage; and means for limiting a level of the battery voltage applied to the boost converter when the battery voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, thereby inhibiting performance of pulse skipping by the boost converter. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A programmer for a medical device, the programmer comprising:
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a wireless telemetry circuit adapted to communicate with the medical device; a boost converter adapted to convert a battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; a control circuit adapted to inhibit pulse, skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage; and a comparator that compares the level of the battery voltage to the threshold voltage.
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30. A method for controlling a power supply in a programmer for a medical device, the method comprising:
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applying a battery voltage to a boost converter to convert the battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; inhibiting pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage; and comparing the level of the battery voltage to the threshold voltage.
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31. A system for controlling a power supply in a programmer for a medical device, the system comprising:
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means for applying a battery voltage to a boost converter to convert the battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer; means for inhibiting pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage; and means for comparing the level of the battery voltage to the threshold voltage.
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32. A neurostimulation system comprising:
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an implantable neurostimulator; and a programmer for the neurostimulator, the programmer including a wireless telemetry circuit adapted to communicate with the medical device, a boost converter adapted to convert a battery voltage to an operating voltage for the programmer, wherein the boost converter activates pulse skipping when the operating voltage exceeds a reference voltage, and the boost converter is a fixed-frequency switching mode boost converter, and a control circuit adapted to inhibit pulse skipping by the boost converter when a level of the battery voltage is greater than a threshold voltage, wherein the programmer comprises a comparator that compares the level of the battery voltage to the threshold voltage.
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Specification