Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation

Intermec IP Corporation

Daniel Joseph Klostermann

Daniel Aghassian

Md Mizanur Rahman

Daniel E Alt

Robert J Grabon

Robert J Traeger

John K Rohde

Mizanur Rahman

Patrick R Erb

M Mizanur Rahman

An implantable medical device system for orientation-independent telemetry to and from the device are disclosed. The system includes an external controller which produces an electromagnetic field to induce a current in a coil in the implantable medical device and vise versa. In a preferred embodiment, the external controller comprises three orthogonal coils, each of which is potentially activated to generate or receive the electromagnetic field. Algorithms are disclosed to allow for the choice of one or more of the coils best suited for telemetry based on the chosen coil's orientation with respect to the telemetry coil in the implantable medical device. Because all three of the orthogonal coils are potentially activated if necessary, the result is that at least one of the coils will be in a proper orientation with respect to the coil in the implantable medical device, thereby improving telemetry or power transfer efficiency.

Multiple telemetry and/or charging coil configurations for an implantable medical device system

A telemetry protocol for an implantable medical device is disclosed. The sending device forms a block of information to be telemetered to the receiving device, including a header, a message, and an error detection data (CRC). The entirety of the block is divided into smaller packets of a predetermined size. Each packet has a CRC computed for it (CRC), and is sent to the receiving device, which deduces a CRCand compares it with the appended CRC. If not valid, that packet is again requested to be resent. If valid, the next packet is requested to be sent, its CRCchecked, etc., until all packets are received and verified. The receiving device then discards the CRCs to reconstitute the original block. The receiving device then deduces CRCand compares it with the CRCappended to the block. If valid, the block is accepted, and if not, the procedure is repeated.

Telemetry protocol for ultra low error rates useable in implantable medical devices

An improved telemetry protocol for an implantable medical device is disclosed. The sending device forms a block of information to be telemetered to the receiving device in a typical fashion, including a header, a message, and an error detection data, such as a Cyclic Redundancy Code (CRC) for that data. This CRC, called CRC1, is preferably computed using a first CRC polynomial. Then, the entirety of the block is divided into smaller packets of a predetermined byte size. Each packet, regardless of its contents, has a CRC computed for it (CRC2) preferably computed using a second CRC polynomial. Each packet with its appended CRC2 is sent to the receiving device, which deduces a CRC2 and compares it with the appended CRC2. If not valid, that packet is again requested to be resent. If valid, the next packet is requested to be sent, its CRC2 checked, etc., until all packets are received and verified. The receiving device then discards the CRC2s to reconstitute the original block. The receiving device then deduces CRC1 and compares it with the CRC1 appended to the block. If valid, the block is accepted, and if not, the procedure is repeated for the block.

Embodiments of an improved implantable medical device system for orientation-independent telemetry to and from the device are disclosed. The system includes an external controller which produces an electromagnetic field to induce a current in a coil in the implantable medical device and vise versa. In a preferred embodiment, the external controller comprises three orthogonal coils, each of which is potentially activated to generate or receive the electromagnetic field. Algorithms are disclosed to allow for the choice of one or more of the coils best suited for telemetry based on the chosen coil's orientation with respect to the telemetry coil in the implantable medical device. Because all three of the orthogonal coils are potentially activated if necessary, the result is that at least one of the coils will be in a proper orientation with respect to the coil in the implantable medical device, thereby improving telemetry efficiency. The disclosed techniques may be used to improve induction-based powering or charging of the device as well.

A wireless communication system having a terminal unit operates in a reduced noise state during receipt of a wireless transmission from a control unit. The terminal unit includes terminal circuitry, a radio and noise management circuitry. The noise management circuitry partially or fully disables operation of the terminal circuitry during a receipt by the radio. Noise management circuitry may disable a terminal processor, disable interrupts, buffer interrupts and otherwise modify operation of the terminal circuitry to reduce generated radio noise that would otherwise interfere with receipt of data by the radio. The wireless communication system includes noise management circuitry located in a control unit that operates in conjunction with noise management circuitry in a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit to schedule transmissions from the control unit. These scheduled transmissions allow the terminal units to perform required processing functions outside of the reduced noise period.

Wireless communications system having reduced noise mode operation capability

A method for telemetry between an implantable medical device and an external programming component is disclosed. The telemetry circuitry of the implantable device is initially powered on for only a portion of the time needed to receive the entirety of a wake-up signal from the external component. During that time, only a first portion of the wake-up signal as received form the external component is checked against the implantable device's understanding of that first portion as stored in its memory. If the implantable device does not recognize the received first portion, powering on of the telemetry circuitry is terminated. However, if that first portion is recognized, then the implantable device continues to power on the telemetry circuitry to receive another (second) portion of the wake-up signal. If that received second portion is recognized, then the telemetry circuitry is further powered to receive a next (third) portion of the wake-up signal from the external component, etc., until the entirety of the wake-up signal is recognized by the implantable device as having been received.

Telemetry-based wake up of an implantable medical device

A broadband antenna system includes a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of phase shifting elements, and a circuitry connection. Each of the antenna elements has a respective antenna element operating bandwidth dependent upon the construction of the element. Each phase shifting element connects a respective one of the plurality of antenna elements to a common antenna connection with a respective bandwidth shift. The circuitry connector couples the common antenna connection to radio circuitry. With the plurality of antenna elements bandwidth shifted by the plurality of phase shifting elements, the antenna elements operate in combination with an operating bandwidth a multiple of the element operating bandwidths. The circuitry connector transforms a frequency design range harmonic impedance at the common antenna connection to a minimum impedance at a second end of the circuitry connector that connects to radio circuitry. The antenna system may be part of a radio module that includes a radio module shell containing radio circuitry, with the plurality of antenna elements substantially conforming to the radio module shell. The plurality of antennas may reside upon a dielectric layer disposed upon an external portion of the radio module shell. The circuitry connector extends through the radio module shell and dielectric layer to connect the radio circuitry to the plurality of antenna elements. Insulative spacers may connect the plurality of antenna elements to the dielectric layer such that the antenna elements reside adjacent to, and at least partially away from, the dielectric layer to enhance performance.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Daniel Joseph Klostermann