Methods and apparatus for tissue activation and monitoring
First Claim
1. A method for controlling one or more satellite units which reside along a carrier located in a subject'"'"'s body, whereineach satellite unit includes a number of electrodes and circuitry that is coupled to a bus, andthe bus includes first and second conduction paths with at least the first conduction path being insulated from the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is located within the subject'"'"'s body,the method comprising:
- supplying power to one or more of the satellite units over the bus;
transmitting a bit sequence over the bus;
storing information in at least one satellite unit based on the bit sequence to configure said electrodes of said satellite;
ceasing to transmit bit sequences;
ceasing to supply power to the satellite units, wherein ceasing to supply power to the satellite units includes transmitting a sleep command on the bus to the satellite units so that a certain part of the control circuit within each satellite unit is turned off while the electrodes therein remain in their configured states, hence reducing the rower consumption by the satellite units; and
sending pacing pulses to the configured electrodes and/or detecting analog signals through the configured electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject'"'"'s body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.
227 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for controlling one or more satellite units which reside along a carrier located in a subject'"'"'s body, wherein
each satellite unit includes a number of electrodes and circuitry that is coupled to a bus, and the bus includes first and second conduction paths with at least the first conduction path being insulated from the subject'"'"'s body when the carrier is located within the subject'"'"'s body, the method comprising: -
supplying power to one or more of the satellite units over the bus;
transmitting a bit sequence over the bus;storing information in at least one satellite unit based on the bit sequence to configure said electrodes of said satellite; ceasing to transmit bit sequences; ceasing to supply power to the satellite units, wherein ceasing to supply power to the satellite units includes transmitting a sleep command on the bus to the satellite units so that a certain part of the control circuit within each satellite unit is turned off while the electrodes therein remain in their configured states, hence reducing the rower consumption by the satellite units; and sending pacing pulses to the configured electrodes and/or detecting analog signals through the configured electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification