Performance assessment and adaptation of an acoustic communication link

• US 8,401,662 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stahmann, Jeffrey E., Maile, Keith R., Huelskamp, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US13/349,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60, 607/13, 606/1, 424/9.1, 380/261, 367/136
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3706 Pacemaker parameters stimulation threshold A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile

Abstract

Systems and methods for adapting the performance of an acoustic communication link with an implantable medical device (IMD) are disclosed. An illustrative method includes initiating an acoustic link with the IMD, measuring an initial performance of the acoustic link, determining whether the initial performance of the acoustic link is adequate, adjusting an operating parameter related to the acoustic link in the event the initial performance of the acoustic link is inadequate, measuring a performance of the acoustic link in response to the adjusted operating parameter, and setting the operating parameter to a prior setting if the measured performance of the acoustic link does not improve in response to the adjusted operating parameter.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an implantable medical device including an acoustic transducer configured to transmit and receive acoustic signals;

a communicating device in acoustic communication with the implantable medical device via an acoustic link, the communicating device including an acoustic transducer configured to transmit and receive acoustic signals;

a processor configured to;

measure at least one performance parameter of the acoustic link;

adjust at least one operating parameter of the implantable medical device or the communicating device from a first operating parameter setting to a second operating parameter setting, in response to the at least one measured performance parameter;

determine whether adjusting the at least one operating parameter improves a performance of the acoustic link by analyzing a change in the performance of the acoustic link in response to adjusting the at least one operating parameter; and

set the at least one operating parameter to the first operating parameter setting if adjusting the operating parameter does not improve the performance of the acoustic link.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, in adjusting at least one operating parameter of the implantable medical device or communicating device, the processor is configured to stepwise increase the at least one operating parameter over a range of parameter values.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein operating parameter includes at least one of a transmission power parameter, a receiver sensitivity parameter, a receiver threshold parameter, a carrier frequency parameter, a transmission frequency parameter, a bit timing parameter, a sampling rate parameter, a bit word size parameter, and a modulation format parameter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device includes a therapy delivery module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a pacing device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a drug delivery device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device further includes a sensing module.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicating device is an external device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicating device is an implantable device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicating device is an implantable pulse generator.

11. A wireless pacing system for delivering therapy to a body, the system comprising:

a wireless pacer configured for delivering electrical therapy to the body, the wireless pacer including an acoustic transducer configured to transmit and receive acoustic signals;

a communicating device in acoustic communication with the wireless pacer via an acoustic link, the communicating device including an acoustic transducer configured to transmit and receive acoustic signals;

a processor configured for measuring at least one performance parameter of the acoustic link and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the wireless pacer or the communicating device from a first operating parameter setting to a second operating parameter setting, in response to the at least one measured performance parameter, wherein the processor is further configured for;

determining whether adjusting the at least one operating parameter improves a performance of the acoustic link wherein said determining comprises analyzing a change in the performance of the acoustic link in response to adjusting the at least one operating parameter; and

setting the at least one operating parameter to the first operating parameter setting if adjusting the operating parameter does not improve the performance of the acoustic link.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein, in adjusting at least one operating parameter of the implantable medical device or communicating device, the processor is configured to stepwise increase the at least one operating parameter over a range of values.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein operating parameter includes at least one of a transmission power parameter, a receiver sensitivity parameter, a receiver threshold parameter, a carrier frequency parameter, a transmission frequency parameter, a bit timing parameter, a sampling rate parameter, a bit word size parameter, and a modulation format parameter.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless pacer further includes a sensing module.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the communicating device is an external device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the communicating device is an implantable pulse generator.

17. A wireless pacing system for delivering therapy to a body, the system comprising:

a wireless pacer configured for delivering electrical therapy to a body, the wireless pacer including an acoustic transducer configured to transmit and receive acoustic signals;

a communicating device in acoustic communication with the wireless pacer via an acoustic link, the communicating device including an acoustic transducer configured to transmit and receive acoustic signals;

a means for measuring at least one performance parameter of the acoustic link;

a means for adjusting an operating parameter of the wireless pacer or the communicating device from a first operating parameter setting to a second operating parameter setting, in response to the at least one measured performance parameter;

a means for determining whether adjusting the at least one operating parameter improves a performance of the acoustic link said means for determining whether adjusting the at least one operating parameter improves a performance of the acoustic link including a means for analyzing a change in the performance of the acoustic link in response to adjusting the operating parameter, wherein the means for adjusting the operating parameter sets the at least one operating parameter to the first operating parameter setting if adjusting the operating parameter does not improve the performance of the acoustic link.