Minimally invasive implantable neurostimulation system
First Claim
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1. A medical device system, comprising:
- an external medical device comprising an inductive communication initiating device coupled to an external antenna; and
an implantable medical device comprising;
a control unit;
a signal generator for generating a therapeutic electrical stimulation signal;
a plurality of electrodes coupled to the signal generator for delivering the electrical stimulation signal to a neurostimulation site of a patient;
an inductive communication target device;
an implantable antenna coupled to the target device for receiving a communication signal inductively coupled between the external antenna and the implantable antenna;
a rectifier coupled to the implantable antenna for receiving the inductively coupled communication signal and having a voltage output providing a voltage output signal in response to receiving the inductively coupled communication signal; and
a sampling circuit coupled to the control unit and to a signal line for measuring a voltage signal correlated to the voltage output, and for providing the control unit with a feedback control signal based on the voltage signal,the voltage output being a sole power source coupled to the signal generator to provide the voltage output signal to the signal generator for generating the therapeutic electrical stimulation signal delivered by the plurality of electrodes, the control unit configured to alter control of the signal generator based on the feedback control signal.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of a minimally invasive implantable medical device (IMD) system are described. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device system includes an external device for transmitting a communication signal and an implantable device for receiving the communication signal by inductive coupling. The implantable device is configured to harvest power from the inductively coupled communication signal and power a signal generator from the harvested power to generate a therapeutic electrical stimulation signal.
183 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A medical device system, comprising:
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an external medical device comprising an inductive communication initiating device coupled to an external antenna; and an implantable medical device comprising; a control unit; a signal generator for generating a therapeutic electrical stimulation signal; a plurality of electrodes coupled to the signal generator for delivering the electrical stimulation signal to a neurostimulation site of a patient; an inductive communication target device; an implantable antenna coupled to the target device for receiving a communication signal inductively coupled between the external antenna and the implantable antenna; a rectifier coupled to the implantable antenna for receiving the inductively coupled communication signal and having a voltage output providing a voltage output signal in response to receiving the inductively coupled communication signal; and a sampling circuit coupled to the control unit and to a signal line for measuring a voltage signal correlated to the voltage output, and for providing the control unit with a feedback control signal based on the voltage signal, the voltage output being a sole power source coupled to the signal generator to provide the voltage output signal to the signal generator for generating the therapeutic electrical stimulation signal delivered by the plurality of electrodes, the control unit configured to alter control of the signal generator based on the feedback control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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enabling an external medical device comprising an inductive communication initiating device and an external antenna to apply a communication signal to the external antenna; receiving on an implantable antenna of an implantable medical device the communication signal inductively coupled between the external antenna and the implantable antenna, the implantable medical device comprising an inductive communication target device coupled to an implantable antenna, a control unit, a signal generator, a plurality of electrodes coupled to the signal generator, and a rectifier coupled to the implantable antenna; generating a voltage output signal at a voltage output of the rectifier in response to the inductively coupled communication signal; measuring, by a sampling circuit, a voltage signal correlated to one of the inductively coupled signal and the voltage output signal for providing the control unit with a feedback control signal; providing the voltage output signal to the signal generator as a sole power source for powering generation of a therapeutic electrical stimulation signal delivered by the plurality of electrodes to a neurostimulation site of a patient; and altering control of the signal generator based on the feedback control signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An implantable medical device system, comprising:
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an external device for transmitting a communication signal; and an implantable device for receiving the communication signal by inductive coupling and configured to; harvest power from the inductively coupled communication signal; and power a signal generator from the harvested power to generate a therapeutic electrical stimulation signal; the implantable device comprising a sealed housing enclosing electronic circuitry and an implantable antenna extending from the sealed housing, the implantable antenna having at least a portion electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry and having a bend in the portion of the implantable antenna for anchoring the implantable medical device at a target implant site of a patient, the implantable antenna configured to receive the inductively coupled communication signal, wherein the power harvested from the inductively coupled communication signal comprises the sole source of power for the implantable device, and wherein the implantable antenna is configured to be held in an undeployed position aligned with the sealed housing to allow the implantable device and the implantable antenna to be implanted through a skin incision. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification