Implantable device with optical telemetry

• US 6,349,234 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermedics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intermedics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bendele, Travis H., Pauly, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/817,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60, 607/32, 128/903, 128/908
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system is provided for optically communicating with an implantable device. In one embodiment, the system includes an implantable device having a large memory and an external unit which downloads information from the memory for analysis and display. The implantable device includes a light-emitting diode (LED) and a modulator for driving the LED. Although various frequencies can be used, frequencies which experience relatively little attenuation through body tissue are presently preferred. The external device includes a photo-multiplier tube (PMT) and a demodulator for equalizing and demodulating the detection signal produced by the PMT in response to detected light. A high bandwidth channel (perhaps as much as 500 Mbits/sec) is created by these components. This channel advantageously allows for a substantially reduced download time.

Claims

1. An implantable device capable of communicating with an external device, comprising:

an implantable transmitter configured to transmit information to the external device via an optical communications link; and

an implantable receiver configured to receive information from the external device via an inductive communications link.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the implantable transmitter includes a light-emitting diode (LED).

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the implantable transmitter includes a light source and a modulator coupled to the light source, the modulator configured to modulate light emitted by the light source in accordance with the information being transmitted.

4. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the information transmitted includes physiological data that is monitored by the implantable device.

5. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the implantable receiver includes a receiver coil.

6. The implantable device of claim 5, wherein the implantable receiver further includes a current sensor to convert current induced in the receiver coil into a detected signal, and a demodulator to convert the detected signal into the information being received.

7. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the information received is selected from the group consisting of command, data and parameter information.

8. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the information received is a download request, and the information transmitted is data requested by the download request.

12. The implantable device of claim 7, wherein the power converter includes a rectifier to convert the current into a charging current, the rectifier includes a diode, and the implantable receiver includes a current sensor for sensing a voltage drop across the diode.

9. An implantable device capable of communicating with an external device, comprising:

an implantable transmitter configured to transmit information to the external device via an optical communications link;

an implantable receiver configured to receive information from the external device via an inductive communications link, the implantable receiver including a receiver coil; and

a power converter configured to convert current induced in the receiver coil into energy.

10. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the power converter includes an energy storage device for storing the energy.

11. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the implantable transmitter is configured to use the energy from the power converter to transmit the information.

13. An external device capable of communicating with an implantable device, comprising:

an external transmitter configured to transmit information to the implantable device via an inductive communications link; and

an external receiver configured to receive information from the implantable device via an optical communications link.

14. The external device of claim 13, wherein the external transmitter includes a transmit coil.

15. The external device of claim 14, wherein the external transmitter further includes a modulator coupled to the transmit coil, the modulator configured to modulate a magnetic field produced by the transmit coil in accordance with the information being transmitted.

16. The external device of claim 13, wherein the information transmitted is selected from the group consisting of command, data and parameter information.

17. The external device of claim 13, wherein the external receiver includes a light sensor selected from the group consisting of a photo-multiplier tube and a photo-diode.

18. The external device of claim 13, wherein the external receiver includes a light sensor to produce a detected signal, and a demodulator to convert the detected signal into the information being received.

19. The external device of claim 13, wherein the information received includes physiological data that is monitored by the implantable device.

20. The external device of claim 13, wherein the information transmitted is a download request, and the information received is data requested by the download request.

21. An external device capable of communicating with an implantable device, comprising:

an external transmitter configured to transmit information to the implantable device via an inductive communications link; and

an external receiver configured to receive information from the implantable device via an optical communications link, wherein the external receiver includes a light sensor to produce a detection signal, and an enabling device to produce an enable signal for the light sensor.

22. The external device of claim 21, wherein the enabling device is configured to assert the enable signal when the light sensor is shielded from excessive ambient light levels.

23. The external device of claim 22, wherein the enabling device includes an ambient light detector.

24. The external device of claim 22, wherein the enabling device includes a mechanical switch.

25. An implantable device capable of communicating with an external device, comprising:

an implantable transmitter configured to transmit information to the external device via an optical communications link that provides an optical bandwidth; and

an implantable receiver configured to receive information from the external device via a non-optical communications link that provides a bandwidth lower than the optical bandwidth.

26. The implantable device of claim 25, further comprising a power converter to convert signals induced in the implantable receiver into energy for the implantable transmitter.

27. An external device capable of communicating with an implantable device, comprising:

an external transmitter configured to transmit information to the implantable device via a non-optical communications link that provides a non-optical bandwidth; and

an external receiver configured to receive information from the implantable device via an optical communications link that provides a bandwidth higher than the non-optical bandwidth.

28. The external device of claim 27, wherein the external receiver includes a light sensor to produce a detection signal, and an enabling device to produce an enable signal used to enable the light sensor when the light sensor is shielded from excessive ambient light levels.