External controller/charger system for an implantable medical device capable of automatically providing data telemetry through a charging coil during a charging session

• US 9,844,677 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2016
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Aghassian, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US15/000,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20160136437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An external controller/charger system for an implantable medical device is disclosed, in which the external controller/charger system provides automatic switching between telemetry and charging without any manual intervention by the patient. The external controller/charger system includes an external controller which houses a telemetry coil and an external charging coil coupled to the external controller. Normally, a charging session is carried out using the external charging coil, and a telemetry session is carried out using the telemetry coil. However, when a patient requests to carry out telemetry during a charging session, the external charging coil is used instead of the internal telemetry coil.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with an implantable medical device using an external system, comprising:

providing power to the implantable medical device from a coil in the external system during a charging session;

receiving a data telemetry request at the external system to transmit data to adjust a therapy being provided by the implantable medical device; and

interrupting the charging session to transmit at least a portion of the data through the coil during a data telemetry session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data telemetry request is generated automatically at the external system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data telemetry request results from a patient'"'"'s interaction with the external system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein interrupting the charging session comprises conducting the entire data telemetry session, and then resuming the charging session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein interrupting the charging session comprises interleaving the data telemetry session and the charging session.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each portion of the data telemetry session and each portion of the charging session are limited to a predetermined duration until the data is fully transmitted.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the duration of each portion of the data telemetry session is shorter than the duration of each portion of the charging session.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein each portion of the data telemetry session begins by continuously transmitting a wake-up code from the coil until the implantable medical device acknowledges the wake-up code.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each portion of the data telemetry session ends by transmitting a sleep code from the coil to the implantable medical device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the coil is tuned to a first frequency during the charging session and is tuned to a second frequency when conducting the at least a portion of the data telemetry session.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the power comprises a non-modulated magnetic field.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the coil provides power at a first frequency and transmits the data at a second frequency.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapy comprises neurostimulation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the external system comprises a hand-holdable housing with a user interface for adjusting the therapy.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the coil is coupled to the housing by a cable.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises another coil, and wherein the another coil is used to transmit data to adjust a therapy being provided by the implantable medical device during a data telemetry session when a charging session is not occurring.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein interrupting the charging session comprises:

altering a status of a first switch that couples the coil to charging circuitry in the external system; and

altering a status of a second switch that couples the coil to data telemetry circuitry in the external system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising altering a status of a third switch that adjusts a resonant frequency of the coil.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting a variable capacitor that adjusts a resonant frequency of the coil.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the second switch further couples a second coil in the external system to the data telemetry circuitry.