Optimizing size of implantable medical devices by isolating the power source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tissue stimulation system comprising:
- an implantable battery module configured to house a battery to power a transmitter module;
wherein the transmitter module is separately implantable and comprises a transmitter enclosure and is configured for transmitting acoustic energy to one or more receiver-stimulator devices implantable in the tissue;
wherein the battery module and the transmitter module are connectable by an implantable cable wherein the cable conducts power from the battery to the transmitter module;
wherein the cable comprises an antenna, and the antenna is configured to facilitate a low power radiofrequency communication link between at least one of the implantable modules and an external programming module.
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Abstract
A wireless cardiac stimulation device comprising an implantable transmitter module housing a transmitter and a separately implantable battery module housing a battery for powering the transmitter and other device electronics via a subcutaneously routable electrical cable connecting the module is disclosed. The transmitter module contains a transmitter enclosure which comprises one or more ultrasound transducers. Having separate transmitter and battery modules allows implantation of the transmitter module closer to the target receiver implanted in tissue. A discrete battery module also enables easy replacement of the battery without disturbing the transmitter, which is highly desirable.
216 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A tissue stimulation system comprising:
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an implantable battery module configured to house a battery to power a transmitter module; wherein the transmitter module is separately implantable and comprises a transmitter enclosure and is configured for transmitting acoustic energy to one or more receiver-stimulator devices implantable in the tissue; wherein the battery module and the transmitter module are connectable by an implantable cable wherein the cable conducts power from the battery to the transmitter module; wherein the cable comprises an antenna, and the antenna is configured to facilitate a low power radiofrequency communication link between at least one of the implantable modules and an external programming module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 31)
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8. A tissue stimulation system comprising:
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an implantable transmitter module, the transmitter module configured to transmit acoustic energy to one or more receiver-stimulators implantable in the tissue; wherein the transmitter module is adapted to draw power from a battery housed in a separately implantable-battery module, the battery module and the transmitter module connectable by an implantable cable, wherein the cable conducts power from the battery to the transmitter module; wherein the cable comprises an antenna, and the antenna is configured to facilitate a low power radiofrequency communication link between at least one of the implantable modules and an external programming module. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of optimizing energy utilization in ultrasound transducer arrays comprising:
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activating one or more ultrasound transducers to transmit acoustic energy towards an implanted receiver-stimulator, wherein the receiver-stimulator is configured to receive the acoustic energy and convert the received acoustic energy into electrical energy output; monitoring the electrical energy output; and determining whether the ultrasound transducers are obscured by intervening tissue, based on the monitored output. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for optimizing energy utilization in ultrasound transducer arrays comprising:
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a controller-transmitter configured to activate one or more ultrasound transducers of a transducer array that transmit acoustic energy towards an implanted receiver-stimulator, wherein the receiver-stimulator is configured to receive the acoustic energy and convert the received acoustic energy into electrical energy output delivered to pacing electrodes at the location of the receiver-stimulator; one or more sensing electrodes that are connected to the controller-transmitter and are configured to monitor the electrical energy output; and
circuitry configured to identify the ultrasound transducers of the transducer array that are obscured by intervening tissue based on the monitored electrical energy output. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A tissue stimulation system comprising:
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an implantable transmitter module; a discrete, implantable battery module; one or more implantable receiver-stimulators; wherein the transmitter module comprises a transducer array comprising one or more ultrasound transducers and configured to transmit acoustic energy towards one or more of the receiver-stimulators; the transmitter module is adapted to draw power from a battery housed in the implantable battery module; and
the battery module and the transmitter module are connectable by an implantable cable;wherein the cable comprises an antenna, and the antenna is configured to facilitate a low power radiofrequency communication link between at least one of the implantable modules and an external programming module.
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29. A method of implanting a tissue stimulation system comprising:
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implanting a transmitter module, wherein the transmitter module comprises a transducer array comprising one or more ultrasound transducers; implanting a separate battery module, wherein the battery module comprises a battery; connecting the transmitter module and the battery module using an implantable cable; wherein the battery module supplies power to the transmitter module; and the transmitter module is configured to transmit acoustic energy towards one or more implantable receiver-stimulators that are in contact with the tissue for stimulating the tissue; wherein the cable comprises an antenna, and the antenna is configured to facilitate a low power radiofrequency communication link between at least one of the implantable modules and an external programming module. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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30. A method of implanting a tissue stimulation system comprising:
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implanting a separate battery module, wherein the battery module comprises a battery; connecting the battery module to an existing implanted transmitter module using an implantable cable; wherein the battery module supplies power to the transmitter module; and the transmitter module is configured to transmit acoustic energy towards one or more implantable receiver-stimulators that are in contact with the tissue for stimulating the tissue; wherein the cable comprises an antenna, and the antenna is configured to facilitate a low power radiofrequency communication link between at least one of the implantable modules and an external programming module.
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Specification