System and method for intra-body communication

• US 10,842,377 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Issued: 11/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lin Zhong, Michael Liebschner, Michael S. Cordray, Mimi W. Zhang
• Original Assignee: Lin Zhong, Michael Liebschner, Michael S. Cordray, Mimi W. Zhang
• Inventors: Liebschner, Michael, Zhong, Lin, Zhang, Mimi W., Cordray, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Sean P
• Application Number:
  US15/706,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0051 by applying vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4509 Bone density determination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4533 Ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

A method comprising generating a mechanical signal in a mammal, the mechanical signal having a frequency no more than 50,000 Hz, transmitting the mechanical signal through the musculoskeletal system in the mammal, and sensing the mechanical signal from the musculoskeletal system. A method of triggering an internal event comprising generating a mechanical signal internal or external to a mammal, transmitting the signal through the musculoskeletal system of the mammal, detecting the mechanical signal, and triggering an event in response to the mechanical signal. A method of drug delivery comprising generating a mechanical signal internal or external to a mammal, transmitting the signal through the musculoskeletal system of the mammal, detecting the mechanical signal, and delivering the drug in response to the mechanical signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) generating, by a mechanical signal generator located internal or external to a mammal, an engineered mechanical signal comprising encoded data;

b) transmitting the engineered mechanical signal through a musculoskeletal system of the mammal;

c) sensing, by a receiver device, the engineered mechanical signal from the musculoskeletal system; and

d) applying error compensation to a data sequence of the sensed mechanical signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encoding, by a computer program before step a), raw bits of data into encoded data, wherein the computer program controls an input voltage of the mechanical signal generator to generate the engineered mechanical signal comprising the encoded data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanical signal generator and the receiver device are each placed on an outer surface of the mammal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the engineered mechanical signal has a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 20,000 Hz.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein c) comprises using a transducer to convert the engineered mechanical signal into an electrical signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoded data comprises a sequence of ON frequencies and OFF frequencies, wherein each ON frequency is generated in an ON frequency interval, wherein the ON frequency interval defines an OFF frequency interval of the OFF frequencies.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the ON frequencies and one of the OFF frequencies represent a binary bit, wherein the encoded data comprises at least two binary bits which represent a binary bit sequence.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein each ON frequency in the sequence is separated by an OFF frequency.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanical signal generator is an electro-mechanical stimulator, an electro-magnetic stimulator, or a piezo-electric stimulator, and wherein the receiver device is an accelerometer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decoding, by the receiver device, the encoded data of the engineered mechanical signal.

11. A system for intra-body communication in a mammal comprising:

a mechanical signal generator device coupled to a body of the mammal; and

a receiver device coupled to the body of the mammal,

wherein the mechanical signal generator device generates an engineered mechanical signal that transmits through a musculoskeletal system of the mammal, wherein the receiver device detects the engineered mechanical signal, wherein the engineered mechanical signal comprises encoded data, wherein error compensation is applied to the detected engineered mechanical signal.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a computer program which i) encodes raw bits of data into the encoded data and ii) controls an input voltage of the mechanical signal generator device to generate the engineered mechanical signal comprising the encoded data.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical signal generator device is an electro-mechanical stimulator, an electro-magnetic stimulator, a piezoelectric stimulator, or combinations thereof;

and wherein the receiver device is an accelerometer.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical signal generator device and the receiver device are each implanted inside the mammal or placed on an outer surface of the mammal.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

one or more amplifiers coupled to the mechanical signal generator device or to the receiver device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiver device decodes the encoded data of the detected engineered mechanical signal.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the encoded data comprises a sequence of ON frequencies and OFF frequencies, wherein each ON frequency is generated in an ON frequency interval, wherein the ON frequency interval defines an OFF frequency interval of the OFF frequencies.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein one of the ON frequencies and one of the OFF frequencies represent a binary bit, wherein the encoded data comprises at least two binary bits which represent a binary bit sequence.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the error compensation is applied such that a bit error rate is less than about 10%.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical signal generator device and the receiver device are in two-way communication.