Systems and methods for low energy wake-up and pairing for use with implantable medical devices

• US 9,427,592 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wu, Yongjian, Young, Chao-Wen, Yang, Jun, Shahandeh, Reza, Tieu, Thanh, Yang, Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsieh, Ping
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, James
• Application Number:
  US14/012,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20150065047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Techniques are provided for use with implantable medical devices or trial medical devices for wirelessly connecting the devices to external instruments such as tablet computers or smartphones. In an example where the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator, the neurostimulator passively detects wireless wake-up signals generated by the external instrument, i.e. the neurostimulator “sniffs” for advertisement signals generated by the external instrument. In response to passive detection of a wake-up signal, the implantable neurostimulator determines if a response is warranted and, if so, the neurostimulator activates its wireless transmission components to transmit an acknowledgement signal to the external instrument so as to complete a wake-up and handshake protocol. In this manner, power consumption within the implantable device (or within a similarly equipped trial medical device) can be reduced compared to devices that would otherwise periodically transmit advertisement signals even when no external mobile instrument is present.

Claims

1. A method for use by an implantable medical device for implant within a patient, the method comprising:

passively detecting wireless wake-up signals generated by an external instrument equipped to communicate with the implantable medical device, wherein the external instrument is one of a plurality of external instruments capable of communicating with the implantable medical device, and wherein at least some of the plurality of external instruments are not authorized to communicate with the implantable medical device; and

in response to passive detection of a wake-up signal from the external instrument, determining if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted and, if so, activating wireless signal transmission components of the implantable medical device and transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the external instrument, wherein determining if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted includes determining if the external instrument generating the wake-up signal is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device based on a coded signal received from the external instrument that indicates the external instrument is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device and that differs from coded signals from at least some other external instruments capable of communicating with the implantable medical device but not authorized to wake up the implantable medical device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wake-up signals are short range wireless wake-up signals received by a component of the implantable medical device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the short range wireless wake-up signals are advertisement signals generated in accordance with a low energy short range wireless communication standard.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein passively detecting wake-up signals includes short range wireless communication sniffing.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein passively detecting wake-up signals is performed using wireless signal reception components of the implantable medical device and wherein, in the absence of detection of a wake-up signal warranting a response, the wireless signal reception components of the implantable medical device enter a sleep mode pending a next passive detection cycle.

6. The method of claim 1

wherein passively detecting short range wireless communication wake-up signals generated by an external instrument includes initiating a passive scan search period and, during at least a portion of the scan search period, sniffing for any wireless wake-up signals generated by instruments that are external to the patient;

and

wherein, if at least one wireless wake-up signal is detected during the scan search period, then waiting until completion of the scan search period before activating the short range wireless signal transmission components and transmitting the acknowledgement signal to the external instrument that generated the detected wireless wake-up signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted includes determining if a particular software component of the particular external instrument generating the wake-up signal is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device based on a coded signal received from the external instrument that indicates the particular software component is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device and that differs from coded signals associated with at least some other software components capable of generating coded signals for transmission to the implantable medical device but not authorized to wake up the implantable medical device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wake-up signal includes identifying information for identifying the external instrument or a component thereof and additional information beyond the identifying information and wherein, if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted, the implantable medical device also responds to the additional information.

9. A method for use by an implantable medical device for implant within a patient and an external instrument equipped to communicate with the implantable medical device, the method comprising:

generating wireless wake-up signals using the external instrument;

passively detecting the wireless wake-up signals generated by the external instrument using the implantable medical device where the external instrument is one of a plurality of external instruments capable of communicating with the implantable medical device, and wherein at least some of the plurality of external instruments are not authorized to communicate with the implantable medical device;

in response to passive detection of a wake-up signal by the implantable medical device, determining if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted and, if so, activating wireless signal transmission components of the implantable medical device and transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the external instrument, wherein determining if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted includes determining if the external instrument is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device based on a coded signal received from the external instrument that indicates the external instrument is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device and that differs from coded signals from at least some other external instruments capable of communicating with the implantable medical device but not authorized to wake up the implantable medical device; and

in response to detection by the external instrument of the acknowledgement signal, engaging in further wireless communications between the external instrument and the implantable medical device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the wake-up signals are short range wireless wake-up signals received by a component of the implantable medical device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the short range wireless wake-up signals generated by the external instrument are advertisement signals generated in accordance with a low energy short range wireless communication standard.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the passive detection of wake-up signals by the implantable medical device includes short range wireless sniffing.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein passive detection of wake-up signals by the implantable medical device is performed using wireless signal reception components of the implantable medical device and wherein, in the absence of detection of a wake-up signal warranting a response, the wireless signal reception components of the implantable medical device enter a sleep mode pending a next passive detection cycle.

14. A system for use by an implantable medical device for implant within a patient, the system comprising:

passive signal reception components operative to passively detect wireless wake-up signals generated by an external instrument equipped to communicate with the implantable medical device where the external instrument is one of a plurality of external instruments capable of communicating with the implantable medical device, wherein at least some of the plurality of external instruments are not authorized to communicate with the implantable medical device;

wake-up signal processing components operative in response to passive detection of a wake-up signal from the external instrument to determine if a response is warranted including determining if the external instrument generating the wake-up signal is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device based on a coded signal received from the external instrument that indicates the external instrument is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device and that differs from coded signals from at least some other external instruments capable of communicating with the implantable medical device but not authorized to wake up the implantable medical device; and

active signal transmission components operative if a response is warranted to transmit a wireless acknowledgement signal to the external instrument.

15. The system of claim 14

wherein the passive signal reception components are further operative to initiate a passive scan search period and, during at least a portion of the scan search period, sniff for any wireless wake-up signals generated by instruments that are external to the patient;

and

wherein the active signal transmission components are further operative, in response to detection of at least one wireless wake-up signal during the scan search period, to wait until completion of the scan search period before transmitting the acknowledgement signal to the external instrument that generated the detected wireless wake-up signal.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the wake-up signal processing components are further operative to determine if a particular software component of the particular external instrument generating the wake-up signal is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device based on a coded signal received from the external instrument that indicates the particular software component is authorized to wake up the implantable medical device and that differs from coded signals associated with at least some other software components capable of generating signals for transmission to the implantable medical device but not authorized to wake up the implantable medical device.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the wake-up signal includes identifying information for identifying the external instrument or a component thereof and additional information beyond the identifying information and wherein the system is further operative to respond to the additional information.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the wake-up signals are short range wireless wake-up signals received by a component of the implantable medical device.

19. A method for use by a trial medical device having at least one lead for implant within a patient, the method comprising:

passively detecting wireless wake-up signals generated by an external instrument equipped to communicate with the trial medical device where the external instrument is one of a plurality of external instruments capable of communicating with the trial medical device, wherein at least some of the plurality of external instruments are not authorized to communicate with the trial medical device; and

in response to passive detection of a wake-up signal from the external instrument, determining if a response is warranted and, if so, activating wireless signal transmission components of the trial medical device and transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the external instrument, wherein determining if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted includes determining if the external instrument generating the wake-up signal is authorized to wake up the trial medical device based on a coded signal received from the external instrument that indicates the external instrument is authorized to wake up the trial medical device and that differs from coded signals from at least some other external instruments capable of communicating with the trial medical device but not authorized to wake up the trial medical device.

20. The method of claim 19

wherein passively detecting short range wireless communication wake-up signals generated by an external instrument includes initiating a passive scan search period and, during at least a portion of the scan search period, sniffing for any wireless wake-up signals generated by instruments that are external to the patient;

and

wherein, if at least one wireless wake-up signal is detected during the scan search period, then waiting until completion of the scan search period before activating the short range wireless signal transmission components and transmitting the acknowledgement signal to the external instrument that generated the detected wireless wake-up signal.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein determining if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted includes determining if a particular software component of the particular external instrument generating the wake-up signal is authorized to wake up the trial medical device based on a coded signal received from the external instrument that indicates the particular software component is authorized to wake up the trial medical device and that differs from coded signals associated with at least some other software components capable of generating signals for transmission to the implantable medical device but not authorized to wake up the trial medical device.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the wake-up signal includes identifying information for identifying the external instrument or a component thereof and additional information beyond the identifying information and wherein, if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted, the trial medical device also responds to the additional information.

23. A method for use by a trial medical device having at least one lead for implant within a patient and an external instrument equipped to communicate with the trial medical device, the method comprising:

generating wireless wake-up signals using the external instrument;

passively detecting the wireless wake-up signals generated by the external instrument using the trial medical device where the external instrument is one of a plurality of external instruments capable of communicating with the trial medical device, and wherein at least some of the plurality of external instruments are not authorized to communicate with the trial medical device;

in response to passive detection of a wake-up signal by the trial medical device, determining if a response is warranted and, if so, activating wireless signal transmission components of the trial medical device and transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the external instrument, wherein determining if a response to the wake-up signal is warranted includes determining if the external instrument generating the wake-up signal is authorized to wake up the trial medical device based on a coded signal received from the external instrument that indicates the external instrument is authorized to wake up the trial medical device and that differs from coded signals from at least some other external instruments capable of communicating with the trial medical device but not authorized to wake up the trial medical device; and

in response to detection by the external instrument of the acknowledgement signal, engaging in further wireless communications between the external instrument and the trial medical device.