Implantable neurostimulator devices including both non-rechargeable and rechargeable batteries and methods of use therewith

• US 9,463,320 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Luxembourg Holding SMI SARL (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., Elliott, Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): FAIRCHILD, MALLIKA DIPAYAN
• Application Number:
  US14/606,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20150209592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An implantable neurostimulation (INS) device includes a non-rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery, an antenna, an inductive coil, a neurostimulation module and a telemetry module. The neurostimulation module produces neurostimulation signals for delivery to target neural tissue, and the telemetry module wirelessly communicates with a non-implantable device using at least one of the antenna and the inductive coil. The non-rechargeable battery provides power to the neurostimulation module, and the rechargeable battery provides power to the telemetry module. The INS device also includes a charge module that charges the rechargeable battery in dependence on signals received from a non-implantable device via the inductive coil. Additional modules, such a sensor module, can be powered by the rechargeable battery. Additionally modules, such as controller, can be powered by the non-rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery can power components normally powered by the non-rechargeable battery, when a capacity of the non-chargeable battery falls below a threshold.

Claims

1. An implantable neurostimulation device, comprising:

an antenna;

an inductive coil;

a neurostimulation module that produces neurostimulation signals for delivery to target neural tissue via one or more implantable leads;

a telemetry module that wirelessly communicates with a non-implantable device using at least one of the antenna and the inductive coil;

a non-rechargeable battery that provides power to the neurostimulation module;

a rechargeable battery that provides power to the telemetry module during one or more periods of time that overlap with when the non-rechargeable battery provides power to the neurostimulation module; and

a charge module that charges the rechargeable battery in dependence on power signals received from a non-implantable device via the inductive coil.

2. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 1, wherein the telemetry module uses the antenna to wirelessly communicate with the non-implantable device.

3. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 1, wherein the telemetry module uses the inductive coil to provide backup-communication with the non-implantable device or to initiate a communication session with the non-implantable device.

4. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 1, further comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) that receives or otherwise accesses stimulation data that defines the stimulation signals deliverable by the neurostimulation module via one or more implantable leads;

wherein the rechargeable battery provides power to the CPU when the CPU is in a low-power mode; and

wherein the non-rechargeable battery provides power to the CPU when the CPU is not in the low-power mode.

5. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor module that includes a sensor that detects at least one of motion or position;

wherein the rechargeable battery also provides power to the sensor module during one or more periods of time that overlap with when the non-rechargeable battery provides power to the neurostimulation module.

6. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 5, wherein the sensor module also includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts an analog signal output by the sensor of the sensor module to a digital signal, and wherein the ADC is also powered by the rechargeable battery during one or more periods of time that overlap with when the non-rechargeable battery provides power to the neurostimulation module.

7. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 1, wherein the charge module that charges the rechargeable battery is capable of powering other modules of the implantable neurostimulation device while receiving, via the inductive coil, a signal from the non-implantable device.

8. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 1, wherein:

a volume occupied by the rechargeable battery is between 1% and 20% of a volume occupied by the non-rechargeable battery.

9. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 1, wherein:

an amp-hour rating of the rechargeable battery is between 0.5% and 10% of an amp-hour rating of the non-rechargeable battery.

10. The implantable neurostimulation device of claim 1, wherein:

the rechargeable battery is used to power one or more modules that is/are normally powered by the non-rechargeable battery, when a capacity of the non-rechargeable battery or an indicator thereof falls below a specified threshold level.

11. A method for use by an implantable neurostimulation device, comprising:

powering a neurostimulation module of the implantable neurostimulation device using a non-rechargeable battery of the implantable neurostimulation device;

powering a telemetry module of the implantable neurostimulation device using a rechargeable battery of the implantable neurostimulation device during one or more periods of time that overlap with when the non-rechargeable battery is used for powering the neurostimulation module;

producing, using the neurostimulation module, neurostimulation signals for delivery to target neural tissue via one or more implantable leads coupled to the implantable neurostimulation device; and

wirelessly communicating with a non-implantable device using at least one of an antenna and an inductive coil connected to the telemetry module of the implantable neurostimulation device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

charging the rechargeable battery based on a signal, received via the inductive coil of the implantable neurostimulation device, from the non-implantable device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

using a central processing unit (CPU) to receive or otherwise access stimulation data that defines the neurostimulation signals deliverable by the neurostimulation module via one or more implantable leads;

powering the CPU using the rechargeable battery, when the CPU is in a low-power mode; and

powering the CPU using the non-rechargeable battery, when the CPU is not in the low-power mode.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

when a capacity of the non-rechargeable battery or an indicator thereof falls below a specified threshold level, using the rechargeable battery to power one or more modules of the implantable neurostimulation device that are normally powered by the non-rechargeable battery.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

powering a sensor module using the rechargeable battery during one or more periods of time that overlap with when the non-rechargeable battery is used for powering the neurostimulation module, wherein the sensor module is used to detect at least one of motion or position.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein:

a volume occupied by the rechargeable battery is between 1% and 20% of a volume occupied by the non-rechargeable battery; and

an amp-hour rating of the rechargeable battery is between 0.5% and 10% of an amp-hour rating of the non-rechargeable battery.

17. A system, comprising:

an implantable neurostimulation device including

an antenna;

an inductive coil;

a neurostimulation module that produces neurostimulation signals for delivery to target neural tissue via one or more implantable leads;

a telemetry module;

a non-rechargeable battery that provides power to the neurostimulation module;

a rechargeable battery that provides power to the telemetry module during one or more periods of time that overlap with when the non-rechargeable battery provides power to the neurostimulation module; and

a charge module that charges the rechargeable battery in dependence power signals received from a non-implantable device via the inductive coil of the implantable neurostimulation device;

a non-implantable device including non-implantable antenna; and

a non-implantable device including a non-implantable inductive coil;

wherein the telemetry module of the implantable neurostimulation device uses the antenna of the implantable neurostimulation device to wirelessly communicate with the non-implantable device including the non-implantable antenna.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the telemetry module of the implantable neurostimulation device uses the inductive coil of the implantable neurostimulation device to perform backup wireless communication with, or to initiate a wireless communication session with, the non-implantable device including the non-implantable inductive coil.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the non-implantable device including the non-implantable antenna and the non-implantable device including the non-implantable inductive coil comprise the same non-implantable device.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein:

a volume occupied by the rechargeable battery is between 1% and 20% of a volume occupied by the non-rechargeable battery; and

an amp-hour rating of the rechargeable battery is between 0.5% and 10% of an amp-hour rating of the non-rechargeable battery.