Switchable dual-coil communication circuitry for extending communication range in an implantable medical device system
First Claim
1. A communications device useable in an implantable medical device system, comprising:
- a first resonant circuit having an inductive coil and a capacitor connected in series;
a second resonant circuit having an inductive coil and a capacitor connected in series; and
control circuitry configured to issue at least one control signal indicating whether the communications device is to transmit data or receive data,wherein the at least one control signal enables only the first resonant circuit to transmit data, and wherein the at least one control signal enables both the first and second resonant circuits to receive data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Two LC circuits (each with its own coil) are used in either or both of an external controller or an implanted medical device to extend the range at which the two devices can communicate. Only one of the LC circuits (i.e., one of the coils) is used when the device is transmitting, while both LC circuits (i.e., both coils) are used when the device is receiving. When receiving, the LC circuits are preferably connected in series. The series connection of the LC circuits does not affect the resonant frequency, and thus this resonant frequency is the same for both transmission and reception despite the different LC circuits used. Switching circuitry is controlled to disconnect one of the LC circuits when the device is transmitting, and to connect the LC circuits in series during reception.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A communications device useable in an implantable medical device system, comprising:
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a first resonant circuit having an inductive coil and a capacitor connected in series; a second resonant circuit having an inductive coil and a capacitor connected in series; and control circuitry configured to issue at least one control signal indicating whether the communications device is to transmit data or receive data, wherein the at least one control signal enables only the first resonant circuit to transmit data, and wherein the at least one control signal enables both the first and second resonant circuits to receive data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A communications device useable in an implantable medical device system, comprising:
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a first resonant circuit having an inductive coil and a capacitor connected in series; a second resonant circuit having an inductive coil and a capacitor connected in series; control circuitry configured to issue at least one control signal indicating whether the communications device is to transmit data or receive data; and switching circuitry controlled by the at least one control signal, wherein the switching circuitry is configured to use only the first resonant circuit to transmit data, and wherein the switching circuitry is configured to couple the first and second resonant circuits to receive data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An external controller for transmitting data to and receiving data from an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a first resonant circuit comprising a first capacitor and a first coil; a second resonant circuit comprising a second capacitor and a second coil; control circuitry configured to issue digital data to be transmitted and to receive digital data from the implantable medical device, and configured to issue at least one control signal indicating whether the external controller is to transmit data to or to receive data from the implantable medical device; and switching circuitry controlled by the at least one control signal, wherein the switching circuitry is configured to use only the first resonant circuit to transmit data at a first frequency, and wherein the switching circuitry is configured to connect the first and second resonant circuits in series to receive data at the first frequency. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification