Switched power using telemetry in an implantable medical device

• US 7,711,433 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hoffman, David W., Wahlstrand, Carl D., Torgerson, Nathan A., Perz, Leroy L., Davis, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gedeon; Brian T
• Application Number:
  US11/185,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60, 607/61, 128/903
• US Class Current: 607/60
• 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

Abstract

A system, method and implantable medical for providing switched power while providing transcutaneous telemetry communication with an implanted medical device having an internal power source. An electronics module is adapted to supply the therapeutic output to the patient. A telemetry module is configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication. The telemetry module obtains power from the telemetry signal during transcutaneous telemetry communication.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient and being configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with an external device via a telemetry signal, comprising;

an internal power source;

an electronics module adapted to supply said therapeutic output to said patient;

a telemetry module configured for said transcutaneous telemetry communication; and

said telemetry module obtaining power to operate said telemetry module from said telemetry signal during transcutaneous telemetry communication.

2. An implantable medical device as in claim 1 wherein said telemetry module relies upon power from said telemetry signal to supplement power from said internal power source.

3. An implantable medical device as in claim 1 wherein telemetry module obtains power from one of said internal power source and said telemetry signal.

4. An implantable medical device as in claim 1 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source when said telemetry signal is available.

5. An implantable medical device as in claim 4 wherein said telemetry module always obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source whenever said telemetry signal is available.

6. An implantable medical device as in claim 1 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

7. An implantable medical device as in claim 6 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of said internal power source whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

8. A system for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, comprising;

an external device configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with said implantable medical device; and

said implantable medical device as in claim 1.

9. An implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with an external device, comprising;

an internal power source;

an electronics module adapted to supply said therapeutic output to said patient;

a telemetry module configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication using a telemetry signal; and

a switching module, operatively coupled to said power source and said telemetry module, providing power to operate said telemetry module from said telemetry signal when said telemetry signal is available.

10. An implantable medical device as in claim 9 wherein said telemetry module relies upon power from said telemetry signal to supplement power from said internal power source.

11. An implantable medical device as in claim 9 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from one of said internal power source and said telemetry signal.

12. An implantable medical device as in claim 9 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source when said telemetry signal is available.

13. An implantable medical device as in claim 12 wherein said switching module always supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source whenever said telemetry signal is available.

14. An implantable medical device as in claim 9 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal whenever power from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

15. An implantable medical device as in claim 14 wherein switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal power source whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

16. A system for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, comprising;

an external device configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with said implantable medical device; and

said implantable medical device as in claim 9.

17. A method of providing transcutaneous telemetry communication with an implanted medical device having an internal power source, comprising the steps of:

providing said transcutaneous telemetry communication with a telemetry module of said implanted medical device using a telemetry signal;

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said internal power source when said telemetry signal is not available; and

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal to operate said telemetry module when said telemetry signal is available.

18. A method of providing transcutaneous telemetry communication with an implanted medical device having an internal power source, comprising the steps of:

providing said transcutaneous telemetry communication with a telemetry module of said implanted medical device using a telemetry signal;

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said internal power source when said telemetry signal is not available; and

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal to operate said telemetry module when said telemetry signal is available;

wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step supplements power from said internal power source.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step replaces power from said internal power source.

20. A method as in claim 18 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is always accomplished whenever said telemetry signal is available.

21. A method as in claim 18 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is accomplished whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

22. A method as in claim 21 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is accomplished instead of said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said internal power source step whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

23. An implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient and being configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with an external device via a telemetry signal, comprising;

a power antenna;

an internal battery operatively coupled to said power antenna and adapted to obtain power from said power antenna;

an electronics module operatively coupled to receive power from said internal battery, said electronics module adapted to supply said therapeutic output to said patient;

a telemetry antenna; and

a telemetry module operatively coupled to said telemetry antenna and configured for said transcutaneous telemetry communication;

said telemetry module obtaining power to operate said telemetry module from said telemetry signal during transcutaneous telemetry communication.

24. An implantable medical device as in claim 23 wherein said telemetry module relies upon power from said telemetry signal to supplement power from said internal battery.

25. An implantable medical device as in claim 23 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from one of said internal battery and said telemetry signal.

26. An implantable medical device as in claim 23 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal battery when said telemetry signal is available.

27. An implantable medical device as in claim 26 wherein said telemetry module always obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal battery whenever said telemetry signal is available.

28. An implantable medical device as in claim 23 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

29. An implantable medical device as in claim 28 wherein said telemetry module obtains power from said telemetry signal instead of said internal battery whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

30. An implantable medical device as in claim 23 wherein said transcutaneous telemetry communication is bi-directional.

31. A system for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, comprising;

an external device configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with said implantable medical device; and

said implantable medical device as in claim 23.

32. An implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with an external device, comprising;

a power antenna;

an internal battery operatively coupled to said power antenna and adapted to obtain power from said power antenna;

an electronics module operatively coupled to receive power from said internal battery, said electronics module adapted to supply said therapeutic output to said patient;

a telemetry antenna;

a telemetry module operatively coupled to said telemetry antenna and configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication using a telemetry signal; and

a switching module, operatively coupled to said battery and said telemetry module, providing power to operate said telemetry module from said telemetry signal when said telemetry signal is available.

33. An implantable medical device as in claim 32 wherein said telemetry module relies upon power from said telemetry signal to supplement power from said internal battery.

34. An implantable medical device as in claim 32 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from one of said internal battery and said telemetry signal.

35. An implantable medical device as in claim 32 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from telemetry signal instead of from said internal battery when said telemetry signal is available.

36. An implantable medical device as in claim 35 wherein said switching module always supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal battery whenever said telemetry signal is available.

37. An implantable medical device as in claim 32 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal whenever power from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

38. An implantable medical device as in claim 37 wherein said switching module supplies power to said telemetry module from said telemetry signal instead of from said internal battery whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

39. An implantable medical device as in claim 32 wherein said transcutaneous telemetry communication is bi-directional.

40. A system for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, comprising;

an external device configured for transcutaneous telemetry communication with said implantable medical device; and

said implantable medical device as in claim 32.

41. A method of providing transcutaneous telemetry communication with an implanted medical device having an internal battery operatively coupled to a power antenna and a telemetry module operatively coupled to a telemetry antenna, comprising the steps of:

providing power to said internal battery by way of a power signal transmitted to said power antenna;

providing said transcutaneous telemetry communication with said telemetry module of said implanted medical device by way of said telemetry antenna using a telemetry signal;

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said internal battery when said telemetry signal is not available; and

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal to operate said telemetry module when said telemetry signal is available.

42. A method as in claim 41 wherein said transcutaneous telemetry communication is bi-directional.

43. A method of providing transcutaneous telemetry communication with an implanted medical device having an internal battery operatively coupled to a power antenna and a telemetry module operatively coupled to a telemetry antenna, comprising the steps of:

providing power to said internal battery by way of a power signal transmitted to said power antenna;

providing said transcutaneous telemetry communication with said telemetry module of said implanted medical device by way of said telemetry antenna using a telemetry signal;

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said internal battery when said telemetry signal is not available; and

supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal to operate said telemetry module when said telemetry signal is available;

wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step supplements power from said internal battery.

44. A method as in claim 43 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step replaces power from said internal battery.

45. A method as in claim 43 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is always accomplished whenever said telemetry signal is available.

46. A method as in claim 43 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is accomplished whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

47. A method as in claim 46 wherein said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said telemetry signal step is accomplished instead of said supplying power to said telemetry module in said implanted medical device with said internal battery step whenever energy from said telemetry signal is sufficient to power said telemetry module.

48. A method as in claim 43 wherein said transcutaneous telemetry communication is bi-directional.