Magnetic induction communication system for an implantable medical device

• US 9,166,655 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Meskens, Werner, Van Baelen, Erika J., Nygard, Tony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kahelin, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH DUC GIA
• Application Number:
  US12/914,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20120109256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 607 55- 57, 607/60
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils

Abstract

A communication system for an active implantable medical device. The communication system includes an isolation transformer a coil coupled to the isolation transformer, and first and second communication components each coupled to the isolation transformer such that the first and second communication components are electrically isolated from the coil, and such that the isolation transformer enables the first and second communication components to communicate, via magnetic induction (MI) using the coil, with at least one external component.

Claims

1. An implantable communication system for an active implantable medical device comprising:

an isolation transformer;

a coil coupled to said isolation transformer;

a first communication component coupled to said isolation transformer so as to receive power and data from a first external component over a closely coupled magnetic induction (MI) link operating at a first frequency and formed between the coil and the first external component; and

a second communication component coupled to said isolation transformer so as to receive data from a second external component over a weakly coupled MI link formed between the coil and the second external component, wherein the weakly coupled MI link operates at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency of the closely coupled MI link.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said isolation transformer comprises:

a first winding coupled to said coil and a second winding coupled to the first and second communication components.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said isolation transformer comprises:

a first winding coupled to said coil;

a second winding coupled to said first communication component; and

a third winding coupled to said second communication component.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said isolation transformer, said coil, and said first and second communication components are each part of a circuit that is equivalent to an LC tank circuit having a single resonant frequency.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

circuitry configured to change the resonant frequency of the circuit such that the resonant frequency is alternatively close to the first frequency or the second frequency.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a processor configured to use a signal arbiter to dynamically determine which resonant frequency to which the circuit should be tuned.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the closely coupled MI link is configured to charge a rechargeable power source associated with the first communication component.

7. An implantable component of an implantable medical device comprising:

an isolation transformer;

a coil coupled to said isolation transformer;

first and second communication components each coupled to said isolation transformer such that said first and second communication components are electrically isolated from said coil, and such that said isolation transformer enables said first and second communication components to communicate, via said coil, with a first external component, wherein said isolation transformer, said coil, and said first and second communication components are each part of a circuit equivalent to an LC tank circuit having a single resonant frequency,

wherein said first communication component is configured to receive power and data from the first external component over a closely coupled MI link operating at a first frequency and formed between the coil and the first external component and wherein said second communication component is configured to receive data from a second external component over an MI radio link operating at a second frequency that is different than the closely coupled MI link.

9. The implantable component of claim 7, wherein said isolation transformer comprises:

a first winding connected to said coil;

a second winding connected to said first communication component; and

a third winding connected to said second communication component,

wherein said first, second, and third windings are electrically isolated from one another.

10. The implantable component of claim 9, wherein said first communication component is configured to output, over said MI radio link via said second winding, signals received from said second communication component.

11. The implantable component of claim 9, wherein said second communication component is configured to communicate with said at least one external component over said MI radio link via said third winding.

12. The implantable component of claim 9, wherein said second communication component is a low-voltage integrated circuit (IC) configured to send and receive data signals over said MI radio link via said third winding.

13. The implantable component of claim 7, further comprising:

circuitry configured to change the resonant frequency of the LC tank circuit such that the resonant frequency is alternatively close to the first frequency or the second frequency.

14. The implantable component of claim 13, further comprising:

a processor configured to use a signal arbiter to dynamically determine which resonant frequency to which the LC tank circuit should be tuned.

15. A system comprising:

first and second external components; and

an implantable component comprising;

an isolation transformer;

a coil coupled to said isolation transformer; and

a first communication component coupled to said isolation transformer so as to receive power and data from the first external component over a closely coupled magnetic induction (MI) link operating at a first frequency and formed between the coil and the first external component; and

a second communication component coupled to said isolation transformer so as to receive data from the second external component over a weakly coupled MI link formed between the coil and the second external component, wherein the weakly coupled MI link operates at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency of the closely coupled MI link.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said system is a cochlear implant.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said implantable component comprises:

a plurality of electrodes, wherein said first communication component is configured to provide electrical stimulation to a recipient via said electrodes.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said isolation transformer comprises:

a first winding coupled to said coil;

a second winding coupled to said first communication component; and

a third winding coupled to said second communication component.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said isolation transformer, said coil, and said first and second communication components are each part of an LC tank circuit having a single resonant frequency.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

circuitry configured to change the resonant frequency of the LC tank circuit such that the resonant frequency is alternatively close to the first frequency or the second frequency.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a processor configured to use a signal arbiter to dynamically determine which resonant frequency to which the LC tank circuit should be tuned.