External Device for Communicating with an Implantable Medical Device Having Data Telemetry and Charging Integrated in a Single Housing

• US 20100204756A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Aghassian, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An improved embodiment of an external device for an implantable medical device system is described herein, where the external device has both circuitry for charging the implantable medical device and circuitry for telemetering data to and from the medical implant contained within a single housing. The external device in one embodiment includes orthogonal radiators in which both the radiators are used for data transfer, and in which at least one of the radiators is used for power transfer. Having charging and data telemetry circuitry fully integrated within a single external device conveniences both patient and clinician.

Claims

1. An external device for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing;

a radiator within the housing;

wherein the radiator is used to telemeter data to an implantable medical device and to provide power to the implantable medical device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the radiator is additionally used to received data telemetered from the implantable medical device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the data is telemetered at a first frequency, and wherein the power is provided at a second frequency.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the second frequency is lower than the first frequency.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the first frequency is modulated, but the second frequency is unmodulated.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the provided power is unmodulated.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the radiator comprises a coil.

7. (canceled)

9. An external device for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of radiators within the housing;

wherein the plurality of radiators are used to telemeter data to an implantable medical device and to provide power to the implantable medical device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein a first one of the plurality of radiators is orthogonal to a second one of the plurality of radiators.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of radiators comprise coils.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a circuit board comprising components within the housing, wherein the coils are coupled to the printed circuit board, and wherein at least one of the coils does not have components within it.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein a first one of the plurality of radiators is driven out of phase from a second one of the plurality of radiators.

13. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. An external device for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing;

driver circuitry within the housing for driving at least one radiator within the housing, the driver circuitry operable in a first mode for telemetering data to the implantable medical device, and a second mode for providing power to the implantable medical device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the data is telemetered at a first frequency, and wherein the power is provided at a second frequency.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the second frequency is lower than the first frequency.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the first frequency is modulated, but the second frequency is unmodulated.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the driving circuitry comprises a modulator, wherein the frequency of the modulator is adjustable between the first and second modes.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the device contains a first and second radiator, and wherein the driver circuitry drives the first and second radiators in the first mode, and wherein the driver circuitry drives only the second radiator in the second mode.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least one radiator comprises a resonator circuit with a resonant frequency.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the resonant frequency of the resonator circuit is adjustable between the first and second modes.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the resonator circuit comprises an LC tank circuit.

25. An external device for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing;

a first radiator and a second radiator within the housing;

wherein the first radiator and the second radiator are used to telemeter data to the implantable medical device, and wherein only the second radiator is used to provide power to the implantable medical device.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the first and second radiators are orthogonal.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the first and second radiators comprise coils.

28. The device of claim 27, further comprising a circuit board comprising components within the housing, wherein the first and second coils are coupled to the printed circuit board, and wherein the components are not within the second coil.

29. The device of claim 25, wherein the first and second radiators are driven out of phase.