System and method for transmitting energy to and establishing a communications network with one or more implanted devices

• US 20050187594A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Hatlestad, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,471,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically powering and communicating with an implantable medical device through an inductive link are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises an inductive coil or set of such coils. One coil may be mounted or installed on or near the bed of a patient as a component of a transmission module. Another coil may a component of an implantable medical device. The coils are energized by a resonant circuit to generate an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the bedside. Without any action on the patient'"'"'s part, the implantable device receives the inductively transmitted energy to power its immediate operation or recharge its battery, thereby extending its longevity, potentially indefinitely. The inductive link also enables data transfer communication between the transmission module and implantable device. Some embodiments of a system disclosed herein also can be configured as a component of an Advanced Patient Management System that helps better monitor, predict and manage chronic diseases.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting energy to and communicating with an implantable medical device, the system comprising a transmission module further comprising at least one energizable coil and adapted to automatically establish and control an inductive transfer link with a complementary implantable medical device comprising at least one energizable coil.

2. The transmission module of claim 1, wherein the transmission module automatically establishes and controls the inductive link when the complementary implantable medical device is adjacent the transmission module.

3. The transmission module of claim 1, wherein the transmission module automatically establishes and controls the inductive link when the complementary implantable medical device is adjacent the transmission module at night.

4. The transmission module of claim 1, wherein the at least one coil is adjacent a patient'"'"'s bed.

5. The transmission module of claim 4, wherein the transmission module automatically establishes and controls the inductive link when the complementary implantable medical device is adjacent the bed.

6. The transmission module of claim 4, wherein the transmission module automatically establishes and controls the inductive link when the complementary implantable medical device is adjacent the bed at night.

7. The transmission module of claim 1, wherein the at least one coil is adjacent a patient'"'"'s mattress.

8. The transmission module of claim 7, wherein the transmission module automatically establishes and controls the inductive link when the complementary implantable medical device is adjacent the mattress.

9. The transmission module of claim 7, wherein the transmission module automatically establishes and controls the inductive link when the patient with a complementary implantable medical device is adjacent the mattress at night.

10. The complementary implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a cardiac rhythm management device.

11. The cardiac rhythm management device of claim 10, wherein the device includes a pacemaker.

12. The cardiac rhythm management device of claim 10, wherein the device includes a defibrillator.

13. The complementary implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises sensors.

14. The sensors of claim 13, wherein the sensors include EEG, EMG, EOG, MSNA, thoracic pressure, and hemodynamic pressure sensors.

15. The sensors of claim 14, wherein the sensors include sensors adapted to replicate the sensing of a sleep clinic study.

16. The sensors of claim 14, wherein the sensors are adapted to replicate the sensing of a sleep clinic study.

17. The inductive transfer link of claim 1, wherein the link includes a loosely coupled inductive link.

18. The loosely coupled inductive link of claim 17, wherein the link is established when the transmission module is about 10 centimeters from the medical device.

19. The loosely coupled inductive transfer link of claim 17, wherein the link is established when the transmission module is less than 10 centimeters from the medical device.

20. The loosely coupled inductive transfer link of claim 19, wherein the link is established when the transmission module is about 4-8 centimeters from the medical device.

21. The loosely coupled inductive transfer link of claim 17, wherein the link is established when the transmission module is more than 10 centimeters from the medical device.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission module transfers energy to the medical device.

23. The transmission module of claim 22, wherein the transmission module transfers energy to the medical device to power the device.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device comprises an energy storage device.

25. The energy storage device of claim 24, wherein the device comprises a rechargeable battery.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the transmission module transfers energy to the device to recharge the battery.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission module establishes a data transfer link with the medical device.

28. The data transfer link of claim 27, wherein the link is a bi-directional data transfer link.

29. The bi-directional transfer link of claim 28, wherein the transfer link is adapted to upload and download data.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission module establishes a data transfer link with a plurality of medical devices.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission module establishes a data transfer link with a diagnostic system.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission module establishes a data transfer link with an analytical system.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission module establishes a data transfer link with an extracorporeal system adapted to analyze and correlate sensed patient data from a population of patients.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission module establishes a data transfer link with an APM system.

35. The data transfer link of claim 27, wherein the inductive link modulates the data link.

36. The data transfer link of claim 27, wherein the inductive link powers the data link.

37. The powered data link of claim 36, wherein the inductive link powers intracorporeal ultrasound transmitters and receivers for data communication between multiple implantable devices.

38. The powered data link of claim 36, wherein the inductive link powers a RF transmitter and receiver.

39. The RF transmitter and receiver of claim 38, wherein the RF transmitter and receiver comprises a Bluetooth®

RF transmitter and receiver.

40. The RF transmitter and receiver of claim 38, wherein the transmission module comprises a RF transmitter and receiver.

41. The RF transmitter and receiver of claim 38, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a RF transmitter and receiver.

42. The RF transmitter and receiver of claim 38, wherein the transmission module and the implantable medical device comprise an RF transmitter and receiver.

43. A system for transmitting energy to and communicating with an implantable medical device;

the system comprising a transmission module adapted to automatically establish and control a telemetric transfer link with a complementary implantable medical device.

44. A system for transmitting energy to and communicating with an implantable medical device, the system comprising a transmission module adapted to automatically establish and control an inductive transfer link with a complementary implantable medical device, said module comprising at least one energizable coil, and said medical device comprising at least one energizable coil, an energy storage device and memory to electronically store data.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the transmission module transfers power to the medical device and recharges the energy storage device.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the transmission module establishes a data link with the medical device.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the transmission module establishes a data link with a plurality of medical devices.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the transmission module establishes a data link with an APM system.

49. The system of claim 44, wherein the transmission module establishes a bi-directional data link with the medical device.

50. The system of claim 44, wherein the transmission module is further adapted with memory to electronically store data.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the transmission module is further adapted to analyze data comprising biometric parameters.

52. A method of using the system of claim 44, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

a. bringing the implantable medical device within operational proximity to the transmission module;

b. automatically establishing an inductive transfer link between the implantable medical device and the transmission module;

c. regulating the inductive link;

d. transferring power to the implantable medical device; and

e. transferring data to and from the implantable medical device.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the method further comprises the step of recharging the energy storage device of the implantable medical device.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the method further comprises the step of powering data transfer between a plurality of implantable medical devices.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the method further comprises the step of analyzing data comprising biometric parameters.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the method further comprises the step of powering communication between the implantable medical device and an APM system.