Bio-medical unit and system with electromagnetic power harvesting and communication

• US 9,111,021 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Bo J
• Application Number:
  US12/848,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A medical system includes a transmitter unit, a bio-medical unit, and a receiver unit. The transmitter unit generates a magnetic resonance imaging signal and a downstream electromagnetic communication signal. The transmitter unit then modulates the downstream electromagnetic communication signal on the magnetic resonance imaging signal. The bio-medical unit receives the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal and recovers, therefrom, the downstream electromagnetic communication signal. The bio-medical unit converts the downstream electromagnetic communications signal into downstream information. The bio-medical also converts upstream information into an upstream electromagnetic communication signal. The receiver unit receives the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal and the upstream electromagnetic communication signal. The receiver unit then recovers the magnetic resonance imaging signal from the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal and the upstream information from the upstream electromagnetic communication signal.

Claims

1. A bio-medical unit for implanting into a body, the bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a power supply voltage from a modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal;

an electromagnetic communication module powered by the power supply voltage and operable to;

receive the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal;

recover a downstream electromagnetic communication signal from the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal, wherein the downstream electromagnetic communication signal is modulated on a magnetic resonance imaging signal generated by a magnetic resonance imaging device for imaging to produce the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal;

convert the downstream electromagnetic communication signal into downstream information;

convert upstream information into an upstream electromagnetic communication signal; and

transmit the upstream electromagnetic communication signal;

a processing module operable to;

convert the downstream information into at least one of downstream data and a downstream instruction; and

convert at least one of an upstream instruction and upstream data into the upstream information; and

a function module operable to;

generate the at least one of an upstream instruction and the upstream data; and

perform a bio-medical function based on the at least one of downstream data and the downstream instruction.

2. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

the processing module further operable to;

interpret the downstream instruction to determine whether the functional module is to be enabled to receive an echo signal, wherein the echo signal corresponds to the electromagnetic signal reflecting off of an internal portion of the body; and

enable the functional module when the functional module is to be enabled to receive an echo signal;

the functional module is further operable to;

receive the echo signal; and

convert the echo signal into echo information; and

the processing module is further operable to convert the echo information into the upstream information.

3. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the downstream electromagnetic communication signal has a downstream communication frequency that is greater than frequency of the magnetic resonance imaging signal;

and wherein the upstream electromagnetic communication signal has an upstream communication frequency that is greater than frequency of the magnetic resonance imaging signal.

4. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic communication module is further operable to:

recover the downstream electromagnetic communication signal during a downstream communication interval; and

transmit the upstream electromagnetic communication signal during an upstream communication interval.

5. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic communication module comprises:

a coil operable to;

receive the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal; and

transmit the upstream electromagnetic communication signal;

a receiver section operable to convert the downstream electromagnetic communication signal into downstream information; and

a transmitter section operable to convert the upstream information into the upstream electromagnetic communication signal.

6. A bio-medical unit operable for medical implantation, the bio-medical unit comprises:

an electromagnetic communication module operable to;

receive a modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal, wherein a magnetic resonance imaging device is operable to perform imaging using the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal;

recover a downstream electromagnetic communication signal from the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal, wherein the downstream electromagnetic communication signal is modulated on a magnetic resonance imaging signal to produce the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal; and

convert the downstream electromagnetic communication signal into downstream information;

a processing module operable to convert the downstream information into at least one of downstream data and a downstream instruction; and

a function module operable to perform a bio-medical function based on the at least one of downstream data and the downstream instruction.

7. The bio-medical unit of claim 6, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging signal is transmitted from the magnetic resonance imaging device.

8. The bio-medical unit of claim 7, wherein the function module is further operable to generate at least one of an upstream instruction and upstream data.

9. The bio-medical unit of claim 8, wherein the processing module is further operable to convert at least one of the upstream instruction and the upstream data into upstream information.

10. The bio-medical unit of claim 9, wherein the electromagnetic communication module is further operable to:

convert the upstream information into an upstream electromagnetic communication signal; and

transmit the upstream electromagnetic communication signal.

11. The bio-medical unit of claim 10 wherein the downstream electromagnetic communication signal has a downstream communication frequency that is greater than frequency of the magnetic resonance imaging signal;

and

wherein the upstream electromagnetic communication signal has an upstream communication frequency that is greater than frequency of the magnetic resonance imaging signal.

12. The bio-medical unit of claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic communication module is further operable to:

recover the downstream electromagnetic communication signal during a downstream communication interval; and

transmit the upstream electromagnetic communication signal during an upstream communication interval.

13. The bio-medical unit of claim 10, wherein the electromagnetic communication module comprises:

a coil operable to;

receive the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal; and

transmit the upstream electromagnetic communication signal;

a receiver section operable to convert the downstream electromagnetic communication signal into downstream information; and

a transmitter section operable to convert the upstream information into the upstream electromagnetic communication signal.

14. The bio-medical unit of claim 7, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging signal comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency (RF) component;

a constant magnetic field; and

a gradient magnetic field component.

15. The bio-medical unit of claim 6, further comprising:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a power supply voltage from the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal; and

wherein the electromagnetic communication module is powered by the power supply voltage.

16. A bio-medical unit that is operable to implant into a body, wherein the bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a power supply voltage from a modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal;

an electromagnetic communication module powered by the power supply voltage and operable to;

receive the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal from a magnetic resonance imaging device;

recover a downstream electromagnetic communication signal from the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal, wherein the downstream electromagnetic communication signal is modulated on a magnetic resonance imaging signal;

convert the downstream electromagnetic communication signal into downstream information;

receive upstream information;

convert the upstream information into an upstream electromagnetic communication signal; and

transmit the upstream electromagnetic communication signal at an upstream communication frequency, wherein the upstream communication frequency is greater than frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging signal.

17. The bio-medical unit of claim 16 wherein the electromagnetic communication module is further operable to transmit the upstream electromagnetic communication signal during an upstream communication interval.

18. The bio-medical unit of claim 16, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging signal comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency (RF) component;

a constant magnetic field; and

a gradient magnetic field component.

19. The bio-medical unit of claim 16, wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises:

a processing module operable to;

convert the downstream information into at least one of downstream data and a downstream instruction; and

convert at least one of an upstream instruction and upstream data into the upstream information; and

a functional module operable to;

generate the at least one of an upstream instruction and the upstream data; and

perform a bio-medical function based on the at least one of downstream data and the downstream instruction.

20. The bio-medical unit of claim 19, further comprises:

the processing module further operable to;

interpret the downstream instruction to determine whether the functional module is to be enabled to receive an echo signal, wherein the echo signal corresponds to the electromagnetic signal reflecting off of an internal portion of the body; and

enable the functional module when the functional module is to be enabled to receive an echo signal;

the functional module is further operable to;

receive the echo signal; and

convert the echo signal into echo information; and

the processing module is further operable to convert the echo information into the upstream information.