Apparatus and method for extending implant life using a dual power scheme

• US 9,044,612 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Man & Science S.A.
• Original Assignee: Adi Mashiach, Carsten Mueller
• Inventors: Mashiach, Adi, Mueller, Carsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): TEJANI, ANKIT D
• Application Number:
  US14/042,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20140100635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0514 Electrodes for the urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 : adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 : adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 : Headache or migraine
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 : Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 : for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 : Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 : using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 : Means for communicating with stimulators
• 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 1/37264 : Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 : characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 : Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 : for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 : Controlled or regulated

Abstract

A device according to some embodiments may include a housing configured for location external to a body of a subject. The device may also include at least one processor associated with the housing and configured for electrical communication with a power source, and an antenna associated with the at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to communicate with an implant circuit located within the body of the subject, cause the implant circuit to receive power in a first power mode and in a second power mode, wherein a first level of power delivered in the first power mode is less than a second level of power delivered in the second power mode, and wherein during a therapy period, power delivery in the first mode occurs over a total time that is greater than about 50% of the therapy period.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing configured for location external to a body of a subject; and

at least one processor associated with the housing and configured for electrical communication with a power source; and

an antenna associated with the at least one processor;

the at least one processor being configured to;

communicate with an implant circuit located within the body of the subject,

cause the implant circuit to receive power in a first power mode and in a second power mode, wherein

a first level of power delivered in the first power mode is less than a second level of power delivered in the second power mode,

the first level of power delivered in the first power mode is lower than a power level required to cause modulation of at least one nerve in the body of the subject,

the second level of power delivered in the second power mode is at least as great as the power level required to cause modulation of the at least one nerve in the body of the subject, and

during a therapy period, power delivery in the first power mode occurs over a total time that is greater than about 50% of the therapy period.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the implant circuit is associated with electrodes, and wherein during the first power mode, the at least one processor causes a first alternating current signal to supply power to the implant circuit while the implant circuit is substantially restricted from supplying direct current to the electrodes , and wherein during the second power mode, the at least one processor causes a second alternating current signal to supply power to the implant circuit for conversion to direct current to be supplied to the electrodes.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the implant circuit is substantially restricted from supplying direct current to the electrodes by a diode.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein during the first power mode, the first alternating current signal is supplied at a lower voltage than the second alternating current signal supplied during the second power mode.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and the second alternating current signals are transmitted to the implant circuit via the antenna associated with the at least one processor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the implant circuit is associated with electrodes, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause an alternating current signal to supply power to the implant circuit for conversion to direct current to be supplied to the electrodes, and

wherein during the first power mode, a first power mode pulse length of the alternating current signal is shorter than a pulse length required to stimulate a nerve to cause a contraction of a muscle associated with the nerve through the electrodes associated with the implant circuit, and during the second power mode, a second power mode pulse length of the alternating current signal is at least as long as the pulse length required to stimulate the nerve to cause a contraction of the muscle associated with the nerve through the electrodes associated with the implant circuit.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first power mode pulse length is less than 50 microseconds, and the second power mode pulse length is greater than 50 microseconds.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the first power mode pulse length is less than 500 nanoseconds, and the second power mode pulse length is greater than 50 microseconds.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the implant circuit is associated with electrodes, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause an alternating current signal to supply power to the implant circuit for conversion to direct current to be supplied to the electrodes, and

wherein during the first power mode, a first power mode current amplitude of the alternating current signal is lower than a current amplitude required to stimulate a nerve to cause a contraction of a muscle associated with the nerve through the electrodes associated with the implant circuit, and during the second power mode, a second power mode current amplitude of the alternating current signal is at least as great as a current amplitude required to stimulate the nerve to cause a contraction of the muscle associated with the nerve through the electrodes associated with the implant circuit.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the total time of power delivery in the first mode is greater than about 90% of the therapy period.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the total time of power delivery in the first mode is greater than about 95% of the therapy period.