System and method for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network

• US 20060031378A1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Von Arx, Jeffrey A., Vallapureddy, Vineel, Chavan, Abhi, Holmquist, Paul, Morrissey, Cynthia
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/16 in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system and method for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network is presented. A physical protocol layer is logically defined with an identifier uniquely assigned to a plurality of implantable devices in an intra-body network. Functions are specified within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface. A slave implantable device is activated in response to an activation signal transmitted through the wireless interface by a master implantable device. A wireless communications link is established between the slave implantable device and the master implantable device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device. Data is communicated intra-bodily over the communications link.

Claims

1. A system for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

a physical protocol layer logically defined in a plurality of implantable devices in an intra-body network with an identifier uniquely assigned to each such implantable device; and

functions specified within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

an activation state to activate a slave implantable device in response to an activation signal transmitted through the wireless interface by a master implantable device;

an identification state to establish a wireless communications link between the slave implantable device and the master implantable device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device; and

a command state to communicate data intra-bodily over the communications link.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

an authentication state to authenticate the slave implantable device and the master implantable device.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an error control state to implement error control over the data upon receipt by at least one of the slave implantable device and the master implantable device.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the error control is selected from the group comprising:

an acknowledgement of acceptable data receipt;

a cyclic redundancy code over the data;

parity over the data; and

a request for new data in lieu of the data received.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the master implantable device is activated in an active state to commence and complete the data exchange, and maintained in an off state absent the data exchange.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the slave implantable device is sustained in an active state during the data exchange, and maintained in a standby state absent the data exchange.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the slave implantable device is returned to the standby state upon at least one of an unsuccessful matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device, timing out, command by the master implantable device and a termination of the data exchange.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the master implantable device comprises an implantable medical device performing at least one of an autonomous control, therapeutic and sensing function independent of any other such implantable device.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the slave implantable device comprises an implantable device performing at least one of an autonomous therapeutic and sensing function.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of master implantable devices participate in the intra-body network, further comprising:

an arbitration state to arbitrate control of the communications link between the master implantable devices.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless interface comprises at least one of an acoustic, optical, electronic field, and inductive interface.

12. A method for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

logically defining a physical protocol layer with an identifier uniquely assigned to a plurality of implantable devices in an intra-body network; and

specifying functions within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

activating a slave implantable device in response to an activation signal transmitted through the wireless interface by a master implantable device;

establishing a wireless communications link between the slave implantable device and the master implantable device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device; and

communicating data intra-bodily over the communications link.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the functions further comprise:

authenticating the slave implantable device and the master implantable device.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

implementing error control over the data upon receipt by at least one of the slave implantable device and the master implantable device.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the error control is selected from the group comprising:

providing an acknowledgement of acceptable data receipt;

determining a cyclic redundancy code over the data;

determining parity over the data; and

requesting new data in lieu of the data received.

16. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

activating the master implantable device in an active state to commence and complete the data exchange; and

maintaining the master implantable device in an off state absent the data exchange.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

sustaining the slave implantable device in an active state during the data exchange; and

maintaining the slave implantable device in a standby state absent the data exchange.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

returning the slave implantable device to the standby state upon at least one of an unsuccessful matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device, timing out, command by the master implantable device and a termination of the data exchange.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein the master implantable device comprises an implantable medical device performing at least one of an autonomous control, therapeutic and sensing function independent of any other such implantable device.

20. A method according to claim 12, wherein the slave implantable device comprises an implantable device performing at least one of an autonomous therapeutic and sensing function.

21. A method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of master implantable devices participate in the intra-body network, further comprising:

arbitrating control of the communications link between the master implantable devices.

22. A method according to claim 12, wherein the wireless interface comprises at least one of an acoustic, optical, electronic field, and inductive interface.

23. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 12.

24. An apparatus for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

means for logically defining a physical protocol layer with an identifier uniquely assigned to a plurality of implantable devices in an intra-body network; and

means for specifying functions within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

means for activating a slave implantable device in response to an activation signal transmitted through the wireless interface by a master implantable device;

means for establishing a wireless communications link between the slave implantable device and the master implantable device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device; and

means for communicating data intra-bodily over the communications link.

25. A system for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

a physical protocol layer logically defined in a plurality of peer implantable devices in an intra-body network with an identifier uniquely assigned to each such peer implantable device; and

functions specified within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

an identification state to establish a wireless communications link between a responding peer implantable device and a requesting peer implantable device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the responding peer implantable device; and

a command state to communicate data intra-bodily over the communications link.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the functions further comprise:

an authentication state to authenticate the responding peer implantable device and the requesting peer implantable device.

27. A system according to claim 25, further comprising:

an error control state to implement error control over the data upon receipt by at least one of the responding peer implantable device and the requesting peer implantable device.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the error control is selected from the group comprising:

an acknowledgement of acceptable data receipt;

a cyclic redundancy code over the data;

parity over the data; and

a request for new data in lieu of the data received.

29. A system according to claim 25, wherein the requesting peer implantable device and the responding peer implantable device are activated in an active state to commence and complete the data exchange, and maintained in an off state absent the data exchange.

30. A system according to claim 25, wherein the requesting peer implantable device and the responding peer implantable device are sustained in an active state during the data exchange, and maintained in a standby state absent the data exchange.

31. A system according to claim 25, wherein the responding peer implantable device is returned to the standby state upon at least one of an unsuccessful matching of the identifier assigned to the responding peer implantable device, timing out, command by the requesting peer implantable device and a termination of the data exchange.

32. A system according to claim 25, wherein the responding peer implantable device comprises an implantable device performing at least one of an autonomous therapeutic and sensing function.

33. A system according to claim 25, further comprising:

an arbitration state to arbitrate control of the communications link between the peer implantable devices.

34. A system according to claim 25, wherein the wireless interface comprises at least one of an acoustic, optical, electronic field, and inductive interface.

35. A method for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

logically defining a physical protocol layer with an identifier uniquely assigned to a plurality of peer implantable devices in an intra-body network; and

specifying functions within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

establishing a wireless communications link between a responding peer implantable device and a requesting peer implantable device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the responding peer implantable device; and

communicating data intra-bodily over the communications link.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the functions further comprise:

authenticating the responding peer implantable device and the requesting peer implantable device.

37. A method according to claim 35, further comprising:

implementing error control over the data upon receipt by at least one of the responding peer implantable device and the requesting peer implantable device.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the error control is selected from the group comprising:

providing an acknowledgement of acceptable data receipt;

determining a cyclic redundancy code over the data;

determining parity over the data; and

requesting new data in lieu of the data received.

39. A method according to claim 35, further comprising:

sustaining the requesting peer implantable device and the responding peer implantable device in an active state during the data exchange; and

maintaining the requesting peer implantable device and the responding peer implantable device in a standby state absent the data exchange.

40. A method according to claim 35, further comprising:

returning the requesting peer implantable device and the responding peer implantable device to the standby state upon at least one of an unsuccessful matching of the identifier assigned to the responding peer implantable device, timing out, command by the requesting peer implantable device and a termination of the data exchange.

41. A method according to claim 35, wherein the responding peer implantable device comprises an implantable device performing at least one of an autonomous therapeutic and sensing function.

42. A method according to claim 35, further comprising:

arbitrating control of the communications link between the peer implantable devices.

43. A method according to claim 35, wherein the wireless interface comprises at least one of an acoustic, optical, electronic field, and inductive interface.

44. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 35.

45. An apparatus for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

means for logically defining a physical protocol layer with an identifier uniquely assigned to a plurality of peer implantable devices in an intra-body network; and

means for specifying functions within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

means for establishing a wireless communications link between a responding peer implantable device and a requesting peer implantable device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the responding peer implantable device; and

means for communicating data intra-bodily over the communications link.

46. A system for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

a physical protocol layer logically defined in a plurality of implantable devices in an intra-body network and in a device external to the intra-body network with an identifier uniquely assigned to the implantable devices and the external device; and

functions specified within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

an activation state to activate an implantable device in response to an activation signal transmitted through the wireless interface by the external device;

an identification state to establish a wireless communications link between the implantable device and the external device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device; and

a command state to communicate data intra-bodily over the communications link.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein the external device comprises at least one of a repeater, programmer, and dedicated recharger.

48. A system according to claim 46, wherein the wireless interface comprises at least one of an acoustic, optical, electronic field, and inductive interface.

49. A method for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

logically defining a physical protocol layer with an identifier uniquely assigned to a plurality of implantable devices in an intra-body network and an identifier uniquely assigned to a device external to the intra-body network; and

specifying functions within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

activating an implantable device in response to an activation signal transmitted through the wireless interface by the external device;

establishing a wireless communications link between the implantable device and the external device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device; and

communicating data intra-bodily over the communications link.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the external device comprises at least one of a repeater, programmer, and dedicated recharger.

51. A method according to claim 49, wherein the wireless interface comprises at least one of an acoustic, optical, electronic field, and inductive interface.

52. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 49.

53. An apparatus for providing digital data communications over a wireless intra-body network, comprising:

means for logically defining a physical protocol layer with an identifier uniquely assigned to a plurality of implantable devices in an intra-body network and an identifier uniquely assigned to a device external to the intra-body network; and

means for specifying functions within the physical protocol layer to transact data exchange over a wireless interface, comprising;

means for activating an implantable device in response to an activation signal transmitted through the wireless interface by the external device;

means for establishing a wireless communications link between the implantable device and the external device upon matching of the identifier assigned to the slave implantable device; and

means for communicating data intra-bodily over the communications link.