Signaling error conditions in an implantable medical device system using simple charging coil telemetry
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
- a charging coil configured to receive power from an external charger; and
error modulator circuitry configured to determine a plurality of errors present in the implantable medical device, and configured to transmit indications of the determined errors from the charging coil to the external charger,wherein each indication is transmitted at one of a plurality of frequencies, wherein each frequency indicates a particular one of the plurality of errors.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed techniques allow for externalizing errors from an implantable medical device using the device'"'"'s charging coil, for receipt at an external charger or other external device. Transmission of errors in this manner is particularly useful when telemetry of error codes through a traditional telemetry coil in the implant is not possible, for example, because the error experienced is so fundamental as to preclude use of such traditional means. By externalizing the error via the charging coil, and though the use of robust error modulation circuitry in the implant designed to be generally insensitive to fundamental errors, the external charger can be consulted to understand the failure mode involved, and to take appropriate action.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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a charging coil configured to receive power from an external charger; and error modulator circuitry configured to determine a plurality of errors present in the implantable medical device, and configured to transmit indications of the determined errors from the charging coil to the external charger, wherein each indication is transmitted at one of a plurality of frequencies, wherein each frequency indicates a particular one of the plurality of errors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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an implantable medical device; an external controller configured to transmit and receive data to and from the implantable medical device; and an external charger configured to transmit power to the implantable medical device, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a telemetry antenna configured to receive and transmit the data from and to the external controller, a charging coil configured to receive the power from the external charger, and error modulator circuitry configured to determine a plurality of errors present in the implantable medical device, and configured to transmit indications of the determined errors from the charging coil to the external charger, wherein each indication is transmitted at one of a plurality of frequencies, wherein each frequency indicates a particular one of the plurality of errors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification