Cross-Band Communications in an Implantable Device

• US 20080275312A1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Transoma Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Mills, Perry A., Mosesov, Oleg F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02

Abstract

An ambulatory monitoring device includes a sensor to monitor a physiological signal and a battery power source. The device also includes a wireless receiver adapted to monitor a first frequency band having frequencies below 1 MHz and configured to detect and receive, using less than 10 micro-amps of current from the battery power source when operating, wireless communications within the first frequency band from a remote device at least one meter away. The device further includes a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit—after receipt from the remote device of a first wireless communication within the first frequency band that includes an invitation for further communication—a second wireless communication in a second frequency band having frequencies above 10 MHz, the second wireless communication comprising data indicative of the physiological signal as sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. An ambulatory monitoring device comprising:

a sensor to monitor a physiological signal of a subject;

a battery power source;

a wireless receiver adapted to monitor a first frequency band having frequencies below 1 MHz, the wireless receiver configured to detect and receive, using less than 10 micro-amps of current from the battery power source when operating, wireless communications within the first frequency band from a remote device when the monitoring device is at least 1 meter from the remote device; and

a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit—

after receipt from the remote device of a first wireless communication within the first frequency band that includes an invitation for further communication—

a second wireless communication in a second frequency band having frequencies above 10 MHz, the second wireless communication comprising data indicative of the physiological signal as sensed by the sensor.

2. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is duty-cycled to monitor the first frequency band at some predetermined fraction of continuous time to conserve battery power.

3. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the receiver monitors the first frequency band for 50 ms each second.

4. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver continuously monitors the first frequency band.

5. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band is about 125 kHz to about 134 kHz.

6. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the second frequency band is about 402 MHz to about 405 MHz.

7. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the second frequency band is about 902 MHz to about 928 MHz.

8. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication within the first frequency band includes a selection of a channel within the second frequency band, and wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the second wireless communication at a frequency corresponding to the channel.

9. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein following the wireless transmitter'"'"'s transmission of the second wireless communication within the second frequency band, the wireless receiver receives from the remote device a third wireless communication within the first frequency band indicating that the remote device received the second wireless communication.

10. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the remote device transmits the first wireless communication within the first frequency band periodically.

11. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 10, wherein the remote device transmits the first wireless communication within the first frequency band at least once per day.

12. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 10, wherein the wireless receiver uses less than 3 micro-amps of current from the battery power source when continuously operating.

13. The ambulatory monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver uses less than 10 micro-amps of current from the battery power source when operating, and can receive wireless communications within the first frequency band from a remote device when the monitoring device is at least 2 meters from the remote device.

14. A system for monitoring an ambulatory subject, comprising:

a remote device capable of wireless communication; and

an implantable medical device for implantation in the ambulatory subject that includes;

a sensor to monitor a physiological signal of the subject;

a battery power source;

a wireless receiver adapted to monitor a first frequency band having frequencies below 1 MHz, the wireless receiver configured to detect and receive, using less than 10 micro-amps of current from the battery power source when operating, wireless communications within the first frequency band from the remote device when the monitoring device is at least one meter from the remote device; and

a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit—

after receipt from the remote device of a first wireless communication within the first frequency band that includes an invitation for further communication—

a second wireless communication in a second frequency band having frequencies above 10 MHz, the second wireless communication comprising data indicative of the physiological signal as sensed by the sensor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless receiver is duty-cycled to monitor the first frequency band at some predetermined fraction of continuous time.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless receiver continuously monitors the first frequency band.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote device determines an appropriate channel within the second frequency band for communication with the implantable medical device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first wireless communication within the first frequency band includes an indication of the appropriate channel within the second frequency band, and wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the second wireless communication at a frequency corresponding to the appropriate channel.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein following the wireless transmitter'"'"'s transmission of the second wireless communication within the second frequency band, the wireless receiver receives from the remote device a third wireless communication within the first frequency band indicating that the remote device received the second wireless communication.