Implantable medical devices, and methods of use therewith, that use a same coil for receiving both communication and power signals
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device (IMD) configured to operate in at least two different modes, the IMD comprising:
- a coil including a first terminal, a second terminal and an intermediate tap between the first and second terminals;
power circuitry coupled, during a charge or power mode, to the first and second terminals of the coil, and configured to at least one of charge a rechargeable battery or power therapy and/or diagnostic circuitry in dependence on a power signal received using the coil from a non-implantable device during the charge or power mode; and
communication circuitry coupled, during a communication mode, to the first terminal and the intermediate tap of the coil, and configured to demodulate a communication signal received using the coil from a non-implantable device during the communication mode;
wherein a first portion of the coil, which extends between the first and second terminals of the coil, is used for receiving the power signal during the charge or power mode;
wherein a second portion of the coil, which extends between the first terminal and the intermediate tap of the coil, is used for receiving the communication signal during the communication mode;
wherein the power circuitry includes a rectifier coupled, during the charge or power mode to the first and second terminals of the coil;
further comprising a switch between the second terminal of the coil and an input terminal of the rectifier;
wherein the switch is configured to couple the second terminal of the coil to the input terminal of the rectifier during the charge or power mode;
wherein the switch is configured to decouple the second terminal of the coil from the input terminal of the rectifier during the communication mode, thereby preventing current from flowing through a third portion of the coil, which extends between the intermediate tap and the second terminal of the coil, during the communication mode; and
wherein the switch, by decoupling the second terminal of the coil from the input terminal of the rectifier during the communication mode, reduces an inductance of the coil during the communication mode as compared to an inductance of the coil during the charge or power mode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Implantable medical devices (IMDs), and methods for use therewith, use a same coil for receiving communication and power signals. An IMD, which is configured to operate in a charge or power mode and in a communication mode, includes a coil, power circuitry and communication circuitry. The coil includes first and second terminals and an intermediate tap therebetween. The power circuitry is coupled, during the charge or power mode, to a first portion of the coil extending between the first and second terminals of the coil. The communication circuitry is coupled to a second portion of the coil extending between the first terminal and the intermediate tap of the coil. A third portion of the coil, extending between the intermediate tap and the second terminal of the coil, is decoupled from the power circuitry during the communication mode, which prevents current from flowing through the third portion of the coil.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device (IMD) configured to operate in at least two different modes, the IMD comprising:
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a coil including a first terminal, a second terminal and an intermediate tap between the first and second terminals; power circuitry coupled, during a charge or power mode, to the first and second terminals of the coil, and configured to at least one of charge a rechargeable battery or power therapy and/or diagnostic circuitry in dependence on a power signal received using the coil from a non-implantable device during the charge or power mode; and communication circuitry coupled, during a communication mode, to the first terminal and the intermediate tap of the coil, and configured to demodulate a communication signal received using the coil from a non-implantable device during the communication mode; wherein a first portion of the coil, which extends between the first and second terminals of the coil, is used for receiving the power signal during the charge or power mode; wherein a second portion of the coil, which extends between the first terminal and the intermediate tap of the coil, is used for receiving the communication signal during the communication mode; wherein the power circuitry includes a rectifier coupled, during the charge or power mode to the first and second terminals of the coil; further comprising a switch between the second terminal of the coil and an input terminal of the rectifier; wherein the switch is configured to couple the second terminal of the coil to the input terminal of the rectifier during the charge or power mode; wherein the switch is configured to decouple the second terminal of the coil from the input terminal of the rectifier during the communication mode, thereby preventing current from flowing through a third portion of the coil, which extends between the intermediate tap and the second terminal of the coil, during the communication mode; and wherein the switch, by decoupling the second terminal of the coil from the input terminal of the rectifier during the communication mode, reduces an inductance of the coil during the communication mode as compared to an inductance of the coil during the charge or power mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for used by an implantable medical device (IMD) having a coil and a rechargeable battery, wherein the IMD is configured to operate in a charge mode and a communication mode, wherein a first portion of the coil extends between the first and second terminals of the coil, a second portion of the coil extends between the first terminal and the intermediate tar of the coil, and a third portion of the coil extends between the intermediate tap and the second terminal of the coil, and wherein the IMD includes a switch between the second terminal of the coil and an input terminal of a rectifier of power circuitry that is configured to charge the rechargeable battery, the method comprising:
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(a) during the charge mode (a1) using the switch to couple the second terminal of the coil to the input terminal of the rectifier and using the first portion of the coil, which may include the entire coil, to receive a power signal from a non-implantable device, and (a2) charging the rechargeable battery of the IMD in dependence on the power signal received using the first portion of the coil; (b) during the communication mode (b1) using the switch to decouple the second terminal of the coil from the input terminal of the rectifier and using the second portion of the coil, which has a shorter length than the first portion of the coil, to receive a communication signal from a non-implantable device, and (b2) demodulating the communication signal received using the second portion of the coil. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An implantable medical device (IMD) configured to operate in a charge or power mode and in a communication mode, the IMD comprising:
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a coil including a first terminal, a second terminal and an intermediate tap between the first and second terminals; power circuitry including a rectifier coupled, during the charge or power mode, to a first portion of the coil extending between the first and second terminals of the coil; and communication circuitry coupled to a second portion of the coil extending between the first terminal and the intermediate tap of the coil; wherein the first portion of the coil, which extends between the first and second terminals of the coil, is used for receiving a power signal during the charge or power mode; wherein the second portion of the coil, which extends between the first terminal and the intermediate tap of the coil, is used for receiving a communication signal during the communication mode; further comprising a switch between the second terminal of the coil and an input terminal of the rectifier; wherein the switch is configured to couple the second terminal of the coil to the input terminal of the rectifier during the charge or power mode; wherein the switch is configured to decouple the second terminal of the coil from the input terminal of the rectifier during the communication mode, thereby preventing current from flowing through a third portion of the coil, which extends between the intermediate tap and the second terminal of the coil, during the communication mode; and wherein the switch, by decoupling the second terminal of the coil from the input terminal of the rectifier during the communication mode, reduces an inductance of the coil during the communication mode as compared to an inductance of the coil during the charge or power mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification