Cross-band communications in an implantable device

• US 8,744,581 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mosesov, Oleg
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US13/753,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 607/30, 607/32, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02

Abstract

An ambulatory monitoring device includes a sensor to monitor a physiological signal and a battery power source. The device also includes a wireless transceiver adapted to monitor a first frequency band having frequencies below 1 MHz and configured to detect and receive, using less than 10 micro-amps of current from the battery power source when operating, wireless communications within the first frequency band from a remote device at least one meter away. The wireless transceiver is further adapted to transmit—after receipt from the remote device of a first wireless communication within the first frequency band that includes an invitation for further communication—a second wireless communication in a second frequency band having frequencies above 10 MHz, the second wireless communication comprising data indicative of the physiological signal as sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient, the implantable medical device comprising:

a) one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient;

b) sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors;

c) a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to;

i) receive incoming information from an external device in a first frequency band ranging from about 125 to about 134 kHz, and

ii) send outgoing information to the external device in a second frequency band in a range selected from 402 MHZ to 405 MHz and from about 902 to about 928 MHz; and

d) a power supply for powering the implantable medical device including the transceiver.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is an ultra-low transceiver that is configured to draw a current of about 3 microamps or less.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a receiving range of the transceiver is at least about 2 meters.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors comprise ECG sensors.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the incoming information from the external device regarding the second frequency band at which the transceiver sends the outgoing information to the external device.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is powered on continuously when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient.

7. A method for communicating with an implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient, which includes one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient and sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors, the method comprising:

a) receiving a first communication from an external device by a transceiver in the implantable medical device, wherein the first communication is in a first frequency band ranging from about 125 to about 134 kHz;

b) sending a second communication from the transceiver of the implantable medical device to the external device, wherein the second communication is in a second frequency band in a range selected from 402 MHZ to 405 MHz and from about 902 to about 928 MHz; and

c) providing a power supply for powering the implantable medical device including the transceiver.

8. The method of claim 7 including the first communication having been received by the transceiver using a current of about 3 microamps or less.

9. The method of claim 7 including providing a receiving range of the transceiver is at least about 2 meters.

10. The method of claim 7 including providing the implantable medical device being configured for sensing ECG signals in the body of the patient.

11. The method of claim 7 including configuring the implantable medical device to receive information from the external device, wherein the received information comprises a selection of a frequency in the secondary frequency band for the transceiver to send information to the external, device.

12. The method of claim 7 including continuously powering the transceiver when the implantable medical device is implanted into the body of the patient.

13. An implantable medical device to be implanted into a body of a patient, the implantable medical device comprising:

a) one or more sensors configured to monitor physiological condition of the body of the patient;

b) sensor electronics configured to process a signal received from the one or more sensors;

c) a receiver that is configured to receive incoming information from an external device in a first frequency band ranging from about 125 to about 134 kHz;

d) a transmitter that is configured to send outgoing information to the external device in a second frequency band in a range selected from 402 MHZ to 405 MHz and from about 902 to about 928 MHz; and

e) a power supply for powering the implantable medical device including the receiver and the transmitter.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the receiver is configured to receive the incoming information from the external device regarding the second frequency band at which the transmitter sends the outgoing information to the external device.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the receiver is an ultra-low receiver that is configured to draw a current of about 3 microamps or less.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein a receiving range of the receiver is at least about 2 meters.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein the one or more sensors comprise ECG sensors.