Method for controlling telemetry in an implantable medical device based on power source capacity

• US 8,571,679 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Parramon, Jordi, Marnfeldt, Goran N.
• Primary Examiner(s): MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US13/218,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 607 1- 3, 607/9, 607 34- 36, 607/55, 607 60- 61, 128/899, 174/52.3
• 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 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• 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 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45144 Gold (Au) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45147 Copper (Cu) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48465 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area being a wedge bond, i.e. ball-to-wedge, regular stitch
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49175 Parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00011 Not relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01005 Boron [B]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01033 Arsenic [As]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1461 : MEMS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19105 : in a side-by-side arrangement on a common die mounting substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19107 : off-chip wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 : Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/30111 : matching
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 : using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 : Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49071 : by winding or coiling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49073 : by assembling coil and core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 : Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 : Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 : Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 : Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 : by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 : Metal fusion joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12264 : having outward flange, gripping means or interlocking feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12271 : having discrete fastener, marginal fastening, taper, or end structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12347 : Plural layers discontinuously bonded [e.g., spot-weld, mechanical fastener, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12375 : having member which crosses the plane of another member [e.g., T or X cross section, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12396 : Discontinuous surface component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12535 : with additional, spatially distinct nonmetal component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12806 : Refractory [Group IVB, VB, or VIB] metal-base component

Abstract

An implantable microstimulator configured for implantation beneath a patient'"'"'s skin for tissue stimulation to prevent and/or treat various disorders, uses a self-contained power source. Periodic or occasional replenishment of the power source is accomplished, for example, by inductive coupling with an external device. A bidirectional telemetry link allows the microstimulator to provide information regarding the system'"'"'s status, including the power source'"'"'s charge level, and stimulation parameter states. Processing circuitry automatically controls the applied stimulation pulses to match a set of programmed stimulation parameters established for a particular patient. The microstimulator preferably has a cylindrical hermetically sealed case having a length no greater than about 27 mm and a diameter no greater than about 3.3 mm. A reference electrode is located on one end of the case and an active electrode is located on the other end. The case is externally coated on selected areas with conductive and non-conductive materials.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a power source;

first telemetry circuitry powered by the power source and adapted to receive a first type of telemetry and to transmit the first type of telemetry;

second telemetry circuitry powered by the power source and adapted to receive a second type of telemetry; and

voltage monitoring circuitry adapted to disable the first telemetry circuitry if a voltage of the power source falls below a first threshold voltage.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the first telemetry type comprises FSK.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the second telemetry type comprises OOK.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the first telemetry circuitry comprises an FSK receiver and an FSK transmitter.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the second telemetry circuitry comprises an OOK receiver.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a register, coupled to the voltage monitoring circuitry, wherein the first threshold is stored in the register.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the power source is a lithium ion battery.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to disable the first telemetry circuitry regardless of the voltage of the power source.

9. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a power source;

first telemetry circuitry powered by the power source and adapted to receive a first type of telemetry and to transmit the first type of telemetry;

second telemetry circuitry powered by the power source and adapted to receive a second type of telemetry; and

voltage monitoring circuitry adapted to disable the first telemetry circuitry if a voltage of the power source falls below a first threshold voltage,

wherein if the voltage of the power source falls below a second threshold voltage, lower than the first threshold voltage, the implantable medical device must be reprogrammed to re-enable the first telemetry.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the first threshold is a programmable threshold and the second threshold is a non-programmable threshold.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the first telemetry type comprises FSK.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the second telemetry type comprises OOK.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the first telemetry circuitry comprises an FSK receiver and an FSK transmitter.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the second telemetry circuitry comprises an OOK receiver.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 9, further comprising a register, coupled to the voltage monitoring circuitry, wherein the first threshold is stored in the register.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the power source is a lithium ion battery.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 9, further comprising circuitry to disable the first telemetry circuitry regardless of the voltage of the power source.