Power optmization in a medical implant based system

• US 8,554,334 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramakrishnan, Sthanunathan, Balakrishnan, Jaiganesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, AMANDA K
• Application Number:
  US12/536,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 607/32, 607/59, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals

Abstract

Power optimization in a medical implant based system. A method includes receiving a portion of a signal by a first transceiver. The method further includes determining, from the portion of the signal, a time duration after which a subsequent portion of the signal will be transmitted. The subsequent portion is transmitted at end of the portion. The method also includes entering into an inactive state for the time duration.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a medical implant transceiver implantable within a body of a living organism, wherein the medical implant transceiver includes;

a radio frequency receiver for receiving a portion of a signal from a controller external to the body of the living organism; and

a physical layer circuit responsive to the portion of the signal for;

based on directions within the portion of the signal from the controller, determining a time duration after which a subsequent portion of the signal is to be transmitted by the controller, wherein the directions include a value indicative of the time duration, wherein the time duration differs based on the value, and wherein the subsequent portion is to be transmitted by the controller after an end of the portion,

causing the medical implant transceiver to enter into an inactive state for the time duration, and

awakening the medical implant transceiver after the time duration has elapsed.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining the time duration includes:

detecting a start frame delimiter (SFD) in the portion of the signal; and

decoding a sequence number succeeding the SFD.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller includes:

a medical controller transceiver for encoding the portion of the signal with at least first and second sequence numbers and multiple instances of the SFD, wherein each of the first and second sequence numbers is preceded by a respective instance of the SFD.