Communication system using an implantable device

• US 8,730,031 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Thompson, Todd, Zdeblick, Mark, Behzadi, Yashar, Costello, Benedict, Robertson, Timothy, Hafezi, Hooman, Savage, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/180,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20120004527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

The system of the present invention includes an implantable device that can detect high and low frequency current signature. The implantable device can communicate with a communication device that includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, the communication device is activated.

Claims

1. An implantable device for communication with a communication device that communicates information using a high frequency current signature, the communication device comprising:

a support structure;

a first material physically associated with the support structure; and

a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from a location of the first material, such that the first material and second material are electrically isolated from each other, wherein the support structure includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material to produce the high frequency current signature which contains the information, wherein the second material is dissimilar from the first material and has a different electrochemical potential such that the first and second materials provide a voltage potential difference as a result of the first and second materials being in contact with a conductive fluid to power the communication device and cause the communication device to produce the high frequency current signature which is radiated by the conductive fluid, and wherein the implantable device is configured to detect and decode the high frequency current signature as well as a low frequency current signature.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the low frequency current signature is produced by a user'"'"'s body.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising a satellite unit including a processor and a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least one electrode receives the high frequency current signature.

4. A system to deliver a pacing pulse, the system comprising:

an implantable unit, the implantable unit comprising;

at least one conducting wire;

a processor coupled to the wire, the processor comprising;

a bus;

a high frequency detection module coupled to the bus for receiving and decoding a high frequency current signature; and

a low frequency detection module coupled to the bus for receiving low frequency current signature; and

a plurality of individually addressable electrodes coupled to the processor, each electrode is configured to receive at least one of the high frequency current signature and the low frequency current signature, wherein the high frequency current signature includes information encoded therein for communication and the low frequency current signature is related to physiological parameter; and

a communication device, the communication device comprising;

a support structure;

a first material physically associated with the support structure; and

a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from a location of the first material, such that the first material and second material are electrically isolated from each other, wherein the support structure includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material to produce the high frequency current signature which contains the information, and wherein the second material is dissimilar from the first material and has a different electrochemical potential such that the first and second materials provide a voltage potential difference as a result of the first and second materials being in contact with a conductive fluid to power the communication device and cause the communication device to produce the high frequency current signature which is radiated by the conductive fluid.