The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 03, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 27, 2009
Jonathan P. Roberts, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
James D. Reinke, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Jeffrey D. Wilkinson, Vadnais Heights, MN (US);
Jonathan P. Roberts, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
James D. Reinke, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Jeffrey D. Wilkinson, Vadnais Heights, MN (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A radiation-based timer for use in an implantable medical device (IMD) includes a radiation source and a radiation detection circuit. The radiation source emits radiation particles during a process referred to as radioactive decay. The radiation detection circuit detects the radiation particles emitted during the decay process and tracks the number of radiation particles detected. When the number of radiation particles detected reaches a threshold value, a timer signal is generated. In this manner, the radiation-based timer generates a timer signal as a function of the radioactive decay of the radiation source. The timer signal may be used by one or more components of the IMD for any of a number of functions, including as a wakeup trigger for a communications and/or a sensor event.