Isolation of sensing and stimulation circuitry

• US 8,498,698 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Donofrio, William T., Krause, Paul G., Reinke, James D., Peichel, David J., Arne, Gerald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US12/551,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/60, 607/63
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3962 in combination with another heart therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39624 Pain reduction therapy

Abstract

The disclosure describes techniques of reducing or eliminating a commonality between two modules within the same implantable medical device. Each module within the implantable medical device provides therapy to a patient. The commonality between the two modules exists due to at least one common component shared by the two modules. The commonality between the two modules may create common-mode interference and a shunt current. In accordance with this disclosure, various isolation circuits located at various locations are disclosed to reduce or eliminate the commonality between the two modules. The reduction or elimination of the commonality between the two modules may reduce or eliminate common-mode interference and the shunt current.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:

a housing;

a cardiac module, in the housing, configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient;

a power source that couples to the cardiac module and is configured to provide power to the cardiac module;

at least one isolation circuit that couples to the power source; and

a neurostimulation module, in the housing, that couples to the power source via the at least one isolation circuit and is configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the patient or sense a physiological condition of the patient,

wherein the at least one isolation circuit is configured to electrically isolate the power source from the neurostimulation module to reduce common-mode interference on the neurostimulation module, and

wherein the common-mode interference is caused by the cardiac module delivering electrical stimulation therapy to the patient.

2. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:

a housing;

a first module, in the housing, configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient;

a power source that couples to the first module and is configured to provide power to the first module;

at least one isolation circuit that couples to the power source; and

a second module, in the housing, that couples to the power source via the at least one isolation circuit and is configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the patient or sense a physiological condition of the patient,

wherein the at least one isolation circuit is configured to electrically isolate the power source from the second module to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current on the second module, and

wherein the at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current is caused by the first module delivering electrical stimulation therapy to the patient.

3. The IMD of claim 2, wherein a voltage at a power input of the second module is floating with respect to a voltage of the power source due to the at least one isolation circuit.

4. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the first module comprises a cardiac module and the second module comprises a neurostimulation module.

5. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises:

a first and a second switch coupled to a first and a second input line, respectively, wherein the first input line and the second input line are coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source, respectively;

a capacitor circuit that is coupled to the first and second switch;

a third and fourth switch, wherein the capacitor circuit is coupled to the third and fourth switch, and wherein the third switch is further coupled to the first switch and the fourth switch is further coupled to the second switch;

a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is coupled to the third and fourth switch; and

a fifth and sixth switch coupled to a first and second output line, respectively, wherein the capacitor is coupled to the fifth and sixth switch, and wherein the first output line is coupled to a power input of the second module and the second output line is coupled to a ground terminal of the second module,

wherein, in a first state, the first and second switches are closed and the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth switches are opened to charge the capacitor circuit, in a second state, the first, second, fifth and sixth switches are opened and the third and fourth switches are closed to discharge the capacitor circuit and charge the capacitor, and, in a third state, the third and fourth switches are opened and the first, second, fifth, and sixth switches are closed to provide isolated power to the second module coupled to the isolation circuit,

wherein after the capacitor discharges, the first and second switches are opened and the third and fourth switches are closed to charge the capacitor and provide isolated power, and

wherein after the capacitor charges, the third and fourth switches are opened and the first and second switches are closed to provide power on the first and second output line.

6. The IMD of claim 5, wherein the capacitor circuit comprises:

at least two capacitors; and

at least three switches,

wherein a first switch and a second switch of the at least three switches are closed and a third switch of the at least three switches is opened to charge the at least two capacitors in parallel, and wherein the first and second switch of the at least three switches are opened and the third switch of the at least three switches is closed to discharge the at least two capacitors in series.

7. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises:

an oscillator coupled to a first and a second input line and configured to generate a first oscillating pulse, wherein the first and the second input line are coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source;

a transformer coupled to the oscillator and configured to transform the first oscillating pulse to a second oscillating pulse;

a rectifier coupled to the transformer and configured to rectify the second oscillating pulse; and

a capacitor coupled to the rectifier and configured to generate an isolated direct current (DC) voltage across a first and second output line,

wherein the first and second output line are coupled to a power input of the second module and a ground terminal of the second module, respectively.

8. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises:

an oscillator coupled to a first and a second input line and configured to generate a first oscillating pulse, wherein the first and the second input line are coupled to a power source and a ground of the power source, respectively;

a barrier circuit coupled to the oscillator that is configured to receive the first oscillating pulse and generate a second oscillating pulse that is isolated from the first oscillating pulse;

a rectifier coupled to the barrier circuit configured to rectify the second oscillating pulse; and

a capacitor coupled to the rectifier configured to generate an isolated direct current (DC) voltage across a first and second output line,

wherein the first output line is coupled to a power input of the second module and the second output line is coupled to a ground terminal of the second module.

9. The IMD of claim 8, wherein the barrier circuit comprises:

a first resistor coupled between a first and second output of the oscillator;

a first capacitor coupled to a first end of the first resistor;

a second capacitor coupled to a second end of the first resistor; and

a second resistor coupled between a first and second input to the rectifier, wherein a first end of the second resistor is coupled to the first capacitor and a second end of the second resistor is coupled to the second capacitor.

10. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises:

a light emitting diode (LED) that is coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source; and

a photo-voltaic cell that is configured to generate a voltage in response to illumination of the LED,

wherein the photo-voltaic cell is coupled to the second module.

11. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises:

a first switch coupled between the power source and a power input of the second module; and

a second switch coupled between a ground of the power source and a ground terminal of the second module,

wherein a first terminal of a power device is coupled to the power input of the second module and a second terminal of the power device is coupled to the ground terminal of the second module,

wherein the power device is charged to a sufficient voltage to power the second module when the first and second switches are closed,

wherein, prior to transmitting a stimulation signal, the first module transmits an indication signal to the second module, and

wherein the second module, in response to the indication signal, opens the first and second switch.

12. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises a first isolation circuit, the IMD further comprising:

a second isolation circuit that couples the second module to a common component shared with the first module, wherein the common component is configured to transfer data between the first and second modules.

13. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the common component comprises at least one of a processor, a telemetry module, and a memory device.

14. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the second isolation circuit comprises at least one of:

a first resistor that couples the second module to the common component and a second resistor that couples a ground terminal of the second module to a ground of the power device,

a first capacitor that couples the second module to the common component and a second capacitor that couples the ground terminal of the second module to the ground of the power source,

a transformer, wherein a primary side of the transformer is coupled to the common component and the ground of the power source and a secondary side of the transformer is coupled to the second module and the ground terminal of the second module,

a first opto-isolator that couples the second module to the common component and a second opto-isolator that couples the ground terminal of the second module to the ground of the power source, and

a first photo-voltaic cell that couples the second module to the common component and a second photo-voltaic cell that couples the ground terminal of the second module to the ground of the power source.

15. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the second isolation circuit comprises:

a processor;

a first capacitor and a second capacitor; and

a first group of switches and a second group of switches,

wherein the processor closes the first group of switches and opens a second group of switches to charge the first capacitor to transfer data to the processor from the second module, and

wherein the processor opens the first group of switches and closes the second group of switches to discharge the first capacitor and charge the second capacitor to transfer data to the second module from the processor.

16. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the second isolation circuit comprises:

a memory device that includes at least a power terminal, a ground terminal, a serial read/write terminal, and a control terminal;

a first switch coupled between the power source and the power terminal;

a second switch coupled between a floating power line and the power terminal, wherein the floating power line is a first output of the first isolation circuit;

a third switch coupled between a ground of the power source and the ground terminal;

a fourth switch coupled between a floating ground line and the ground terminal, wherein the floating ground line is a second output of the first isolation circuit;

a fifth switch coupled between the second module and the serial read/write terminal;

a sixth switch coupled between the common component and the serial read/write terminal;

a seventh switch coupled between the second module and the control terminal; and

an eighth switch coupled between the common component and the control terminal,

wherein, when the common component writes data to or reads data from the memory device, the common component opens the first, third, fifth, and seventh switches and closes the first, third, fifth, and seventh switches,

wherein, when the second module writes data to or reads data from the memory device, second module opens the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth switches and closes the second, fourth, sixth, and eight switches,

wherein when the first, third, fifth, and seventh switches are closed, the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth switches are open, and

wherein when the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth switches are closed, the first, third, fifth, and seventh switches are open.

17. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the at least one isolation circuit enables data transmission between the first therapy module and the second therapy module.

18. A method comprising:

delivering, via a first module within a housing of an implantable medical device (IMD), electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, wherein the first module is powered via a power source;

delivering, via a second module within the housing of the IMD, electrical stimulation therapy to the patient or sensing, via the second module within the housing of the IMD, a physiological condition of the patient, wherein the second module is powered via at least one isolation circuit that couples to the power source; and

isolating the power source from the second module via the at least one isolation circuit to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current on the second module,

wherein delivering electrical stimulation via the first module causes the at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a voltage at a power input of the second module is floating with respect to a voltage of the power source due to the at least one isolation circuit.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first module comprises a cardiac module and the second module comprises a neurostimulation module.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises:

a first and second switch coupled to a first and second input line, respectively, wherein the first and second input line are coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source; and

a capacitor circuit that is coupled to the first and second switch, a third and fourth switch, wherein the capacitor circuit is coupled to the third and fourth switch,

wherein the third switch is further coupled to the first switch and the fourth switch is further coupled to the second switch, a capacitor,

wherein the capacitor is coupled to the third and fourth switch, and a fifth and sixth switch coupled to a first and second output line, respectively,

wherein the capacitor is coupled to the fifth and sixth switch,

wherein the first and second output line is coupled to a power input of the second module and a ground terminal of the second module, respectively, and

wherein isolating the power source from the second module via the at least one isolation circuit to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shut current on the second module comprises;

closing the first and second switches and opening the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth switches to charge the capacitor circuit;

opening the first and second switches and closing the third and fourth switches to discharge the capacitor circuit and charge the capacitor;

opening the third and fourth switches and closing the first, second, fifth, and sixth switches to provide isolated power to the first or second module coupled to the first and second output lines;

after the capacitor discharges, opening the first and second switches and closing the third and fourth switches to charge the capacitor and provide isolated power; and

after the capacitor charges, opening the third and fourth switches and closing the first and second switches to generate an isolated direct current (DC) voltage across the first and second output line.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the capacitor circuit comprises:

at least two capacitors; and

at least three switches,

wherein isolating the power source from the second module via the at least one isolation circuit to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shut current on the second module comprises;

closing a first switch and a second switch of the at least three switches;

opening a third switch of the at least three switches to charge the at least two capacitors in parallel;

opening the first and second switch of the at least three switches; and

closing the third switch of the at least three switches to discharge the at least two capacitors in series.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein isolating the power source from the second module via the at least one isolation circuit to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shut current on the second module comprises:

generating a first oscillating pulse via an oscillator coupled to a first and second input line, wherein the first and second input line is coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source, wherein the power source provides power to the oscillator, and wherein the at least one isolation circuit includes the oscillator;

generating a second oscillating pulse via a transformer, wherein the at least one isolation circuit includes the transformer, and wherein the transformer receives the first oscillating pulse to generate the second oscillating pulse;

rectifying the second oscillating pulse; and

smoothing the rectified second oscillating pulse to generate an isolated direct current (DC) voltage across a first and second output line via a capacitor, wherein the at least one isolation circuit includes the capacitor, and

wherein the first and second output line is connected to a power input of the second module and a ground terminal of the second module.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein isolating the power source from the second module via the at least one isolation circuit to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shut current on the second module comprises:

generating a first oscillating pulse via an oscillator coupled to a first and second input line, wherein the first and second input line is coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source, wherein the power source provides power to the oscillator, wherein the at least one isolation circuit includes the oscillator;

generating a second oscillating pulse via a barrier circuit, wherein the at least one isolation circuit includes the barrier circuit, and wherein the barrier circuit receives the first oscillating pulse to generate the second oscillating pulse;

rectifying the second oscillating pulse; and

smoothing the rectified second oscillating pulse to generate an isolated direct current (DC) voltage across a first and second output line via a capacitor, wherein the at least one isolation circuit includes the capacitor, and

wherein the first output line is connected to a power input of the second module and the second output line is connected to a ground terminal of the second module.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the barrier circuit comprises:

a first resistor coupled between a first and second output of the oscillator;

a first capacitor coupled to a first end of the first resistor;

a second capacitor coupled to a second end of the first resistor; and

a second resistor coupled between a first and second input to the rectifier, wherein a first end of the second resistor is coupled to the first capacitor and a second end of the second resistor is coupled to the second capacitor.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein isolating the power source from the second module via the at least one isolation circuit to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current on the second module comprises:

illuminating a light emitting diode (LED) that is coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source, wherein the at least one isolation circuit includes the LED; and

generating a voltage on a photo-voltaic cell in response to the illumination, wherein the at least one isolation circuit includes the photo-voltaic cell, and wherein the photo-voltaic cell couples to a power input and a ground terminal of the second module.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises:

a first switch coupled between the power source and a power input of the second module; and

a second switch coupled between a ground of the power source and a ground terminal of the second module,

wherein a first terminal of a power device is coupled to the power input of the second module and a second terminal of the power device is coupled to the ground terminal of the second module, and

wherein isolating the power source from the second module via the at least one isolation circuit to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current on the second module comprises;

transmitting an indication signal from the first module to the second module, prior to the first module transmitting the stimulation signal, indicating that the first module is about to delivery the stimulation signal;

opening, via the second module, the first and second switch in response to the indication signal.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises a first isolation circuit, the method further comprising:

isolating a common component shared by both the first and second modules via a second isolation circuit that couples the second module to the common component, wherein the common component transfers data between the first and second modules.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the common component comprises at least one of a processor, a telemetry module, and a memory device.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the second isolation circuit comprises at least one of:

a first resistor that couples the second module to the common component and a second resistor that couples a ground terminal of the second module to a ground of the power source,

a first capacitor that couples the second module to the common component and a second capacitor that couples the ground terminal of the second module to the ground of the power device,

a transformer, wherein a first side of the transformer is coupled to the common component and the ground of the power device and a second side of the transformer is coupled to the second module and the ground terminal of the second module,

a first opto-isolator that couples the second module to the common component and a second opto-isolator that couples the ground terminal of the second module to the ground of the power device, and

a first photo-voltaic cell that couples the second module to the common component and a second photo-voltaic cell that couples the ground terminal of the second module to the ground of the power device.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the second isolation circuit comprises a processor, a first capacitor and a second capacitor, and a first group of switches and a second group of switches, and wherein isolating a common component shared by both the first and second modules comprises:

closing the first group of switches and opening a second group of switches to charge the first capacitor to transfer data to the processor from the second module, and

opening the first group of switches and closing the second group of switches to discharge the first capacitor and charge the second capacitor to transfer data to the second module from the processor.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the second isolation circuit comprises:

a memory device that includes at least a power terminal, a ground terminal, a serial read/write terminal, and a control terminal;

a first switch coupled between the power source and the power terminal;

a second switch coupled between a floating power line and the power terminal, wherein the floating power line is a first output of the first isolation circuit;

a third switch coupled between a ground of the power source and the ground terminal;

a fourth switch coupled between a floating ground line and the ground terminal, wherein the floating ground line is a second output of the first isolation circuit;

a fifth switch coupled between the second module and the serial read/write terminal;

a sixth switch coupled between the common component and the serial read/write terminal;

a seventh switch coupled between the second module and the control terminal; and

an eighth switch coupled between the common component and the control terminal, and

wherein isolating a common component shared by both the first and second modules comprises;

closing the first, third, fifth, and seventh switches when the common component writes data to or reads data from the solid state memory device; and

closing the second, fourth, sixth, and eight switches when the second module writes data to or reads data from the solid state memory device,

wherein when the first, third, fifth, and seventh switches are closed, the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth switches are open, and

wherein when the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth switches are closed, the first, third, fifth, and seventh switches are open.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one isolation circuit enables data transmission between the first therapy module and the second therapy module.

34. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:

a housing;

a first means, in the housing, for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, wherein the first means is powered via a power source; and

a second means, in the housing, for delivering a electrical stimulation therapy to the patient or sensing a physiological condition of the patient, wherein the second means is powered via at least one means for isolating that couples to the power source,

wherein the means for isolating isolates the power source from the second means to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shut shunt current on the second means,

wherein delivering electrical stimulation via the first means causes the at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current.

35. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:

a housing;

a cardiac module, in the housing, configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient;

a power source that couples to the cardiac module and is configured to provide power to the cardiac module;

at least one isolation circuit that couples to the power source, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises;

a first and a second switch coupled to a first and a second input line, respectively, wherein the first input line and the second input line are coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source, respectively;

a capacitor circuit that is coupled to the first and second switch;

a third and fourth switch, wherein the capacitor circuit is coupled to the third and fourth switch, and wherein the third switch is further coupled to the first switch and the fourth switch is further coupled to the second switch;

a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is coupled to the third and fourth switch; and

a fifth and sixth switch coupled to a first and second output line, respectively, wherein the capacitor is coupled to the fifth and sixth switch,

wherein, in a first state, the first and second switches are closed and the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth switches are opened to charge the capacitor circuit, in a second state, the first, second, fifth and sixth switches are opened and the third and fourth switches are closed to discharge the capacitor circuit and charge the capacitor, and, in a third state, the third and fourth switches are opened and the first, second, fifth, and sixth switches are closed to provide isolated power to the neurostimulation module coupled to the isolation circuit,

wherein after the capacitor discharges, the first and second switches are opened and the third and fourth switches are closed to charge the capacitor and provide isolated power, and

wherein after the capacitor charges, the third and fourth switches are opened and the first and second switches are closed to provide power on the first and second output line; and

a neurostimulation module, in the housing, that couples to the first output line and the second output line of the at least one isolation circuit to receive power and is configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the patient or sense a physiological condition of the patient,

wherein the at least one isolation circuit is configured to electrically isolate the power source from the neurostimulation module to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current on the neurostimulation module, and

wherein the at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current is caused by the cardiac module delivering electrical stimulation therapy to the patient.

36. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:

a housing;

a processor;

a cardiac module, in the housing, configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient;

a power source that couples to the cardiac module and is configured to provide power to the cardiac module;

at least one isolation circuit that couples to the power source, wherein the at least one isolation circuit comprises;

an oscillator coupled to a first and a second input line and further coupled to the processor, and configured to generate a first oscillating pulse that comprises data provided by the processor, wherein the first and the second input line are coupled to the power source and a ground of the power source;

a transformer coupled to the oscillator and configured to transform the first oscillating pulse to a second oscillating pulse;

a data demodulator coupled to the transformer and configured to provide data between the cardiac and neurostimulation modules;

a rectifier coupled to the transformer and configured to rectify the second oscillating pulse; and

a capacitor coupled to the rectifier and configured to generate an isolated direct current (DC) voltage across a first and second output line;

a neurostimulation module, in the housing, that couples to the first and second output line of the at least one isolation circuit and is configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the patient or sense a physiological condition of the patient,

wherein the at least one isolation circuit is configured to electrically isolate the power source from the neurostimulation module to reduce at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current on the neurostimulation module, and

wherein the at least one of common-mode interference and shunt current is caused by the cardiac module delivering electrical stimulation therapy to the patient.