Method and device for transmitting sensor data of an implantable sensor to an external data processing unit

• US 9,339,189 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raumedic AG (Wagner Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Raumedic AG (Wagner Holding AG)
• Inventors: Ghler, Karlheinz, Peitsch, Peter, Jurisch, Reinhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US14/236,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0257 using atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• 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 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

During the transmission of sensor data of an implantable sensor with a measurement data recorder, an energy storage unit and a transmitter unit to an external data processing unit with a transmitter/receiver unit, a high-frequency energy carrier signal is firstly emitted from an energy supply unit. At least a part of the energy contained in the high-frequency energy carrier signal is stored in the energy storage unit of the implantable sensor. After the ending of the emission of the high-frequency energy carrier signal, a sensor measurement is carried out using the measurement data recorder of the implantable sensor. The measured sensor data are transmitted from the transmitter unit of the implantable sensor to the transmitter/receiver unit of the external data processing unit. The result is a transmission method, in which interference from the HF feed is avoided, with a compact design.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting sensor data of an implantable sensor (2) to an external data processing unit (3) having the following steps:

emitting a high-frequency energy carrier signal from an energy supply unit (18),

storing at least a part of the energy contained in the high-frequency energy carrier signal in an energy storage unit (8) of the implantable sensor (2),

ending the emission of the high-frequency energy carrier signal, wherein said ending the emission depends on a transmission spacing between the implantable sensor and the external data processing unit,

after the ending of the emission of the high-frequency energy carrier signal, carrying out at least one sensor measurement using a measurement data recorder (4) of the implantable sensor (2),

transmitting the measured sensor data from a transmitter unit (13) of the implantable sensor (2) to a transmitter/receiver unit (17) of the external data processing unit (3).

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising a monitoring of an energy supply of the measurement data recorder (4) by the energy storage unit (8) using a monitoring unit (16) of the implanted sensor (2).

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising a conversion of recorded analog sensor data to digital sensor data to be transmitted before the transmission.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the sensor measurements have been carried out and before the measured sensor data have been transmitted, the emission of the high-frequency energy carrier signal is resumed.

5. A device (1) for transmitting sensor data, comprising:

an implantable sensor (2) with a measurement data recorder (4), an energy storage unit (8) and a transmitter unit (13),

an external data processor unit (3) comprising a transmitter/receiver unit (17), a control unit (19) to control a transmission method and to control starting and ending of the transmission of a high frequency signal between the transmitter/receiver unit (17) and the transmitter unit (13), the ending of the transmission being dependent on a transmission spacing between the implantable sensor and the external data processing unit (3), and an energy supply unit (18).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the energy storage unit (8) is configured as a capacitor.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the implanted sensor (2) has an A/D converter (11) to convert recorded analog sensor data into digital sensor data to be transmitted.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the implanted sensor (2) has a monitoring unit (16) to monitor an energy supply of the measurement data recorder (4) by the energy storage unit (8).

9. The device according to claim 5, comprising a start unit (36, 37) for starting an HF field-free measurement.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein, the start unit is configured as a voltage sensor (36).

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the start unit is configured as a time sensor (37).

12. A method for transmitting sensor data of an implantable sensor (2) to an external data processing unit (3) comprising the following steps:

emitting a high-frequency energy carrier signal from an energy supply unit (18),

storing at least a part of the energy contained in the high-frequency energy carrier signal in an energy storage unit (8) of the implantable sensor (2),

ending the emission of the high-frequency energy carrier signal wherein said ending the emission depends on a transmission spacing between the implantable sensor and the external data processing unit,

reading of identification data of the implanted sensor and identifying the sensor,

after the ending of the emission of the high-frequency energy carrier signal, carrying out at least one sensor measurement using a measurement data recorder (4) of the implantable sensor (2),

transmitting the measured sensor data from a transmitter unit (13) of the implantable sensor (2) to a transmitter/receiver unit (17) of the external data processing unit (3).

13. A method for transmitting sensor data of an implantable sensor (2) to an external data processing unit (3) comprising the following steps:

emitting a high-frequency energy carrier signal from an energy supply unit (18),

storing at least a part of the energy contained in the high-frequency energy carrier signal in an energy storage unit (8) of the implantable sensor (2),

ending the emission of the high-frequency energy carrier signal,

after the ending of the emission of the high-frequency energy carrier signal, carrying out at least one sensor measurement using a measurement data recorder (4) of the implantable sensor (2), wherein the at least one sensor measurement comprises a pressure measurement in the implanted sensor, wherein said pressure measurement is carried out independently of possible air pressure fluctuations in the surroundings of the use of the implanted sensor,

transmitting the measured sensor data from a transmitter unit (13) of the implantable sensor (2) to a transmitter/receiver unit (17) of the external data processing unit (3).