Switched power using telemetry in an implantable medical device

• US 20060020307A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hoffman, David W., Wahlstrand, Carl D., Torgerson, Nathan A., Perz, Leroy L., Davis, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,711,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A system, method and implantable medical for providing switched power while providing transcutaneous telemetry communication with an implanted medical device having an internal power source. An electronics module is adapted to supply the therapeutic output to the patient. A telemetry module is configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication. The telemetry module obtains power from the telemetry signal during transcutaneous telemetry communication.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient and being configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with an external device via a telemetry signal, comprising;

an internal power source;

an electronics module adapted to supply said therapeutic output to said patient;

a telemetry module configured for said transcutaneous telemetry communication; and

said telemetry module obtaining power from said telemetry signal when during transcutaneous telemetry communication.

2. An implantable medical device as in claim 1 wherein said telemetry module relies upon power from said telemetry signal to supplement power from said internal power source.

3. An implantable medical device as in claim 1 wherein telemetry module obtains power from one of said internal power source and said telemetry signal.

4. An implantable medical device as in claim 1 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source when said telemetry signal is available.

5. An implantable medical device as in claim 4 wherein said telemetry module always obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source whenever said telemetry signal is available.

6. An implantable medical device as in claim 1 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

7. An implantable medical device as in claim 6 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of said internal power source whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

8. A system for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, comprising;

an external device configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with said implantable medical device; and

said implantable medical device as in claim 1.

9. An implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with an external device, comprising;

an internal power source;

an electronics module adapted to supply said therapeutic output to said patient;

a telemetry module configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication using a telemetry signal; and

a switching module, operatively coupled to said power source and said telemetry module, providing power for said telemetry module from said telemetry signal when said telemetry signal is available.

10. An implantable medical device as in claim 9 wherein said telemetry module relies upon power from said telemetry signal to supplement power from said internal power source.

11. An implantable medical device as in claim 9 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from one of said internal power source and said telemetry signal.

12. An implantable medical device as in claim 9 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source when said telemetry signal is available.

13. An implantable medical device as in claim 12 wherein said switching module always supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source whenever said telemetry signal is available.

14. An implantable medical device as in claim 9 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal whenever power from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

15. An implantable medical device as in claim 14 wherein switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

16. A system for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, comprising;

an external device configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with said implantable medical device; and

said implantable medical device as in claim 9.

17. A method of providing transcutaneous telemetry communication with an implanted medical device having an internal power source, comprising the steps of:

providing said transcutaneous telemetry communication with a telemetry module of said implanted medical device using a telemetry signal;

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said internal power source when said telemetry signal is not available; and

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal when said telemetry signal is available.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step supplements power from said internal power source.

19. A method as in claim 17 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step replaces power from said internal power source.

20. A method as in claim 17 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is always accomplished whenever said telemetry signal is available.

21. A method as in claim 17 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is accomplished whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

22. A method as in claim 21 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is accomplished instead of said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said internal power source step whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.