Systems and method for communicating with implantable devices

• US 7,617,001 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Doron, Eyal, Penner, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): SARCIONE, JESSICA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/276,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 128897-899, 128903-904, 128/906, 607 29- 34, 607 59- 61
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0257 using atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 : Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating with an implant within a patient'"'"'s body using acoustic telemetry includes an external communications device attachable to the patient'"'"'s skin. The device includes an acoustic transducer for transmitting acoustic signals into the patient'"'"'s body and/or for receiving acoustic signals from the implant. The device includes a battery for providing electrical energy to operate the device, a processor for extracting data from acoustic signals received from the implant, and memory for storing the data. The device may include an interface for communicating with a recorder or computer, e.g., to transfer data from the implant and/or to receive instructions for controlling the implant. The device is secured to the patient'"'"'s skin for controlling, monitoring, or otherwise communicating with the implant, while allowing the patient to remain mobile.

Claims

1. A system for activating an implant within a body, comprising:

an external controller for placement adjacent to an exterior surface of a patient'"'"'s body, the controller comprising a controller transducer for transmitting an acoustic control signal including one or more commands into the patient'"'"'s body and an energy storage device for providing electrical energy to operate the external controller; and

one or more implants for placement within the patient'"'"'s body, at least one implant comprising an electrical circuit configured for performing the one or more commands when the implant is activated, an energy storage device, a switch coupled between the electrical circuit and the energy storage device, and an acoustic implant transducer coupled to the switch, the implant transducer configured for receiving the acoustic control signal from the controller transducer to activate the switch between a first state, in which current is limited from flowing from the energy storage device of the at least one implant to the electrical circuit, and a second state, in which current flows from the energy storage device of the at least one implant to the electrical circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more implants comprises a transmitter for transmitting data from the implant.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more implants comprises a biosensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the biosensor comprises one or more sensors capable of measuring a physiological parameter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one implant comprises an actuator coupled to the switch and a therapeutic device coupled to the actuator such that a therapeutic procedure is completed when the at least one implant is activated.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller transducer is configured for transmitting first and second acoustic control signals separated by a predetermined delay, and wherein the switch of the at least one implant is configured to actuate to the second state only when the implant transducer receives the first and second control signals separated by the predetermined delay.

7. The system of claim 1, the controller further comprising a processor for controlling the controller transducer to transmit one of a first acoustic control signal and a second acoustic control signal, wherein the switch of the at least one implant is in the first state when the first control signal is received by the implant transducer, and in the second state when the second control signal is received by the implant transducer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one implant further comprises a sensor coupled to the electrical circuit, the one or more commands comprising measuring a physiological parameter within the body using the sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the implant transducer is configured for transmitting an acoustic data signal to the controller, the data signal comprising sensor data indicative of the physiological parameter, and wherein the controller transducer is configured for receiving the data signal from the implant.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller further comprises memory for storing the sensor data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller further comprises a processor for extracting the sensor data from the data signal.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external charger configured for placement adjacent to an exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body, the charger comprising a source of electrical energy and an energy exchange transducer, the energy exchange transducer configured for converting electrical energy from the source of electrical energy into acoustic energy and transmitting an acoustic energy signal comprising the acoustic energy into the patient'"'"'s body.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the implant transducer of the at least one implant is further configured for converting the acoustic energy signal into electrical energy for recharging the energy storage device.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive for securing the controller to the exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is carried by a patch attachable to the exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller is adapted to be coupled to the exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller is adapted to be secured to the exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body.

18. An apparatus for communicating with an implant located within a patient'"'"'s body, the implant including one or more acoustic transducers configured for communicating using acoustic telemetry, comprising:

one or more acoustic transducers for placement in contact with an exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body;

a controller coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers such that the one or more acoustic transducers are configured for at least one of transmitting acoustic signals to and receiving acoustic signals from within the patient'"'"'s body to communicate with the implant;

an interface configured for wirelessly communicating data between the controller and a device separate from the controller;

an energy storage device for providing electrical energy to at least one of the controller and the one or more acoustic transducers; and

an external charger configured for placement against an exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body, the charger comprising a source of electrical energy, and an acoustic transducer for converting electrical energy from the source of electrical energy into acoustic energy and transmitting the acoustic energy into the patient'"'"'s body for energizing an energy storage device in the implant.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more acoustic transducers of the controller are configured for transmitting first and second acoustic control signals separated by a predetermined delay.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller includes a processor for controlling the one or more acoustic transducers of the controller to transmit one of a first acoustic control signal and a second acoustic control signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is carried by a patch attachable to the exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the patch comprises a flexible piezoelectric material.

23. A method for communicating with one or more implants located within a patient'"'"'s body, at least one implant comprising an acoustic implant transducer configured for communicating using acoustic telemetry, the method comprising:

placing a portable communications device adjacent to an exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body, the communications device comprising one or more acoustic transducers, and an energy storage device for providing electrical energy to operate the communications device;

transmitting an acoustic control signal into the patient'"'"'s body and communicating with the at least one implant using the one or more acoustic transducers, the acoustic control signal adapted to activate a switch, said switch being coupled to the acoustic implant transducer and an energy storage device of the at least one implant, wherein the switch is configured to actuate the at least one implant between a sleep mode, in which current is limited from flowing from the energy storage device of the at least one implant to the electrical circuit, and an active mode, in which current flows from the energy storage device of the at least one implant to the electrical circuit; and

wherein communicating with the at least one implant includes transmitting one or more acoustic signals from the communications device into the patient'"'"'s body, the one or more acoustic signals including a command for controlling an operation of the at least one implant.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the command comprises measuring a physiological parameter within the body.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the command comprises controlling a therapeutic device coupled to the at least one implant.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein upon receiving an acoustic control signal from the communications device, the acoustic implant transducer closes the switch to allow electrical energy to flow from the energy storage device of the at least one implant to power the at least one implant.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein communicating with the at least one implant comprises the portable communications device receiving one or more acoustic signals from the at least one implant, the one or more acoustic signals comprising data indicative of a physiological parameter measured by the at least one implant.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the portable communications device extracting data from the one or more acoustic signals received from the at least one implant.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising storing the extracted data in a memory of the communications device.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising transferring the extracted data to an electronic device external to the patient'"'"'s body.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the communications device comprises a patch carrying the one or more acoustic transducers, and where placing the device adjacent to the patient'"'"'s body comprises securing the patch to the exterior surface of the patient'"'"'s body.