Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080208291 | FREQUENCY SHIFT KEYING (FSK) MAGNETIC TELEMETRY FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A telemetry receive unit for use in an implantable medical device or system can include a coil unit, a single-bit analog to digital converter (ADC), a finite impulse response filter (FIR) coupled to the single-bit ADC, and an accumulator coupled to one or more filter taps of the FIR filter. The accumulator, in operation, can produce one or more data recognition signals corresponding to sampled bits at least temporarily stored at the FIR filter. In several examples, the data recognition signals discriminate between frequency modulated signals that are received at the coil unit, including frequency shift keying (FSK) modulated signals. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208292 | Method and apparatus for communication between a handheld programmer and an implantable medical device - Systems and methods for telemetric communication between a handheld programmer and an implantable medical device are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a user-friendly, color, touch-sensitive screen that allows the user to visually observe and control the handheld's operation. The handheld further comprises an internal and/or external analytical means to provide robust analytical capabilities. Some embodiments of a system disclosed herein can be configured as a component of an Advanced Patient Management System that helps better monitor, predict and manage chronic diseases. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215120 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS PROCESSING, STORAGE, AND FORWARDING OF MEDICAL DATA - One method according to the present invention includes receiving data wirelessly from a medical device, storing the data, transmitting the data to an intermediary device (such as a properly equipped mobile telephone or personal digital assistant), and formatting a message including the received data for transmission to a medical data server. This method can be practiced automatically to allow a medical device for a patient or other subject to be monitored without requiring the patient to manually enter information. This method allows the data to be stored for any desired length of time, and/or until a particular event occurs. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215121 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RF WAKE-UP OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A telemetry system is presented for enabling radio-frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external device in a manner which reduces the power requirements of the implantable device by duty cycling its RF circuitry. A wakeup scheme for the implantable device is provided in which the external device transmits a data segment containing a repeating sequence of special wakeup characters in order to establish a communications session with the implantable device. The wakeup scheme may be designed to operate in the context of a handshaking protocol for collision avoidance. | 09-04-2008 |
20080221643 | System and method for correction of inhomogeneous fields - A method for determining a location of an object in a three-dimensional localization field created by a localization system includes the following steps: providing a catheter having known spacing between electrodes; providing a lookup table of data correlating locations of an object within the localization field with measurements made by the localization system; placing the catheter into the localization field; using the localization system to determine the location of the electrodes based on the lookup table; calculating an observed distance between electrodes; comparing the observed distance to the known electrode spacing; and adjusting the lookup table to more accurately measure the spacing of the electrodes. A Kernel function, such as the derivative of a Gaussian function, may be used to update the lookup table. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221644 | Remote monitoring and control of implantable devices - A treatment system includes a regulator implanted within a patient, a computing device storing at least one patient database associated with the patient in whom the regulator is implanted, and a data transfer device. The data transfer device provides bidirectional communication (e.g., voice communication) and a data exchange (e.g., a treatment history, a patient database, and operational instructions) between the regulator and the computing device. A programmer can obtain patient reports and/or default treatment values from the computing device based on the data exchange. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221645 | Neurotrophic Electrode Neural Interface Employing Quantum Dots - A device for interfacing neurons includes a substrate that defines at least one via passing therethrough. The via is configured to allow at least one neurite to grow therethrough. A light generating unit is disposed adjacent to the substrate and is configured to generate light of a predetermined frequency when an action potential from the neurite is sensed. A light sensor that is spaced apart from the substrate is configured to assert a neural signal corresponding to the action potential when the light generating unit generates light of the predetermined frequency. | 09-11-2008 |
20080234784 | Method and apparatus for operating a diversity antenna system for communicating with implantable medical device - A far-field radio frequency (RF) telemetry system for communicating with an implantable medical device includes a diversity antenna system. Multi-frame messages each including multiple outgoing data frames are transmitted to the implantable medical device. In response, the implantable medical device transmits response data frames each following one or more of the outgoing data frames, according to a predetermined communication protocol. An antenna control circuit selects an antenna of the diversity antenna system for transmitting the outgoing data frames and/or receiving the response data frames based the quality of signal reception associated with the response data frames. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243205 | DIFFERENTIAL ENTROPY BASED DATA COMPRESSION FOR WAVEFORMS - Waveforms are digitally sampled and compressed for storage in memory. The compression of the data includes generating a truncated entropy encoding map and using the values within the map to obtain good compression. An encoder further sub-selects values to be encoded and values to remain unencoded to provide an overall compression of the data. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243206 | DIFFERENTIAL ENTROPY BASED DATA COMPRESSION FOR WAVEFORMS - Waveforms are digitally sampled and compressed for storage in memory. The compression of the data includes generating a truncated entropy encoding map and using the values within the map to obtain good compression. An encoder further sub-selects values to be encoded and values to remain unencoded to provide an overall compression of the data. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243207 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SMOOTHING SAMPLED DIGITAL SIGNALS - Waveforms are digitally sampled and compressed for storage in memory. The compression of the data includes generating a truncated entropy encoding map and using the values within the map to obtain good compression. An encoder further sub-selects values to be encoded and values to remain unencoded to provide an overall compression of the data. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243208 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANNOTATING AND COMPRESSING WAVEFORM DATA - Waveforms are digitally sampled and compressed for storage in memory. The compression of the data includes generating a truncated entropy encoding map and using the values within the map to obtain good compression. An encoder further sub-selects values to be encoded and values to remain unencoded to provide an overall compression of the data. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243209 | DIFFERENTIAL ENTROPY BASED ENCODING OF DATA WITH VARIABLE LENGTH PROBABILISTIC CODES - Waveforms are digitally sampled and compressed for storage in memory. The compression of the data includes generating a truncated entropy encoding map and using the values within the map to obtain good compression. An encoder further sub-selects values to be encoded and values to remain unencoded to provide an overall compression of the data. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243210 | BIASED ACOUSTIC SWITCH FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Devices, systems, and methods for selectively activating medical devices are disclosed. A medical device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment includes an energy storage device, an acoustic transducer configured to convert an acoustic signal into an electrical signal, a signal detector configured to generate a trigger signal when the electrical signal exceeds a specific threshold established by a biasing element, a control circuit, and an activation/deactivation switch configured to switch the medical device between an inactive state and an active state in response to the trigger signal. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249591 | CONTROLLERS FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Controllers for implantable medical devices, and associated methods are disclosed. A device in accordance with one embodiment includes a hand-held housing, an image display device carried by the housing, and an input device carried by the housing. In particular embodiments, one portion of the housing can be rotatable relative to the other, or at a fixed, non-zero angle relative to the other, with the image display device and the input device carried by one portion and a wireless communication device carried by the other portion. A controller can be operatively coupled to the image display device to control the orientation of an image (e.g., whether the image is upright or inverted), presented at the display device in response to a signal received from the input device. The image can include a user-selectable icon, e.g., for controlling parameters associated with delivering therapeutic electromagnetic signals to a patient. Inverting the image can give both a patient and a practitioner improved access to the device. | 10-09-2008 |
20080255635 | IN VIVO SENSING DEVICES AND METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION THEREOF - An in-vivo sensing device for capturing sensed data of the gastrointestinal tract, or other body lumens or cavities of a patient, and for transmitting the sensed data to a data recorder external to the patient. The in-vivo sensing device has an identifier code associated with it. The sensed data may be transmitted to the data recorder together with the identifier code so that the received sensed data can be correlated with the in-vivo sensing device. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255636 | System and method for sharing a common communication channel between multiple systems of implantable medical devices - A system and method that facilitates multiple systems of communicating devices, i.e., a master device and one or more implantable slave devices, to coexist on a common, e.g., RF, communication channel having a limited temporal bandwidth while maintaining the required update rate between each master device and its associated slave devices. In embodiments of the present invention, master devices periodically transmit one or more beacon messages that are suitable for identification by other such master devices at a communication range greater than the communication range that may cause interference between systems and thus enabling one or more systems to cause the position of its frame periods to be interleaved with the frame periods of other such systems in anticipation of systems moving in closer proximity and actually interfering with each other. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262572 | THERAPEUTIC UNIT AND THERAPEUTIC SYSTEM SUPPORTING A FOLLOW-UP EXAMINATION - Therapeutic system with implantable therapeutic unit (ITU) comprising control unit (CU), memory, telemetry unit connected (in)directly to CU for wireless bidirectional transmission of data to/from external device (ED) and detection unit for detecting physiological patient data or operational data. CU triggers outgoing data transmission (DT) from ITU to ED based on preselected internal events and establishes standby mode for reception on part of telemetry unit for receiving beginning (header) of incoming DT from ED to therapeutic unit exclusively within preselected response time window after DT from ITU to ED. System designed to add to incoming DT follow-up signaling data which signals an imminent follow-up examination, whereby CU also prompts sensor unit at preselected time point in response to receipt of follow-up signaling data to detect preselected physiological data required for follow-up examination or to detect operational data of therapeutic and store in memory and transmit with subsequent outgoing DT to ED. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262573 | DYNAMIC TELEMETRY LINK SELECTION FOR AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - Communications with an implantable device are conducted using a physical telemetry link dynamically selected from multiple physical telemetry links based on selected criteria including, for example, bandwidth, security, data throughput, channel availability and reliability. | 10-23-2008 |
20080269840 | Non-surgical device and methods for trans-esophageal vagus nerve stimulation - Devices and methods of non-surgically providing vagus nerve therapy trans-esophageally to treat a variety of medical conditions are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an implantable medical device comprises a support member having an outer surface. The support member is adapted to engage the inner wall of an esophagus. The IMD also comprises at least one electrode disposed on the outer surface of the support member. The at least one electrode is capable of applying a trans-esophageal electrical signal to the vagus nerve through the wall of the esophagus from the inner lumen thereof. The implantable medical device further comprises a signal generator coupled to the support member and to the at least one electrode. The signal generator causes the at least one electrode to apply an electrical signal to the vagus nerve to treat a medical condition. | 10-30-2008 |
20080269841 | Chopper mixer telemetry circuit - This disclosure describes a chopper mixer telemetry circuit for use in a wireless receiver. The receiver may be located in an implantable medical device (IMD) or external programmer. The chopper mixer telemetry circuit may include a mixer amplifier that operates as a synchronous demodulator to provide selective extraction of wireless signals received from a transmitter while suppressing out-of-band noise that can undermine the reliability of the telemetry link between an IMD or programmer and another device. The mixer amplifier may utilize parallel signal paths to convert the received telemetry signal into an in-phase (I) signal component and a quadrature (Q) signal component and recombine the I and Q signal components to reconstruct the total signal independently of the phase mismatch between the transmitter and receiver. Each signal path may include a chopper-stabilized mixer amplifier that amplifies telemetry signals within a desired band while suppressing out-of-band noise. | 10-30-2008 |
20080275530 | Specialty Surgical Instrument - A metal surgical implant has a first antenna wrapped around an elongated portion, the first antenna electrically coupled with circuitry, all tuned to a frequency below 450 kilohertz. The assembly is substantially sterile. A second antenna may also be wrapped around the elongated portion, also electrically coupled with the circuitry. The implant may be a hip implant. | 11-06-2008 |
20080281378 | Neurological diagnostic and therapeutic system utilizing function-specific modules - A neurological diagnosis and/or treatment system comprising:
| 11-13-2008 |
20080281379 | ACTIVITY SENSING FOR STIMULATOR CONTROL - The disclosure describes a system that measures the distance between one or more electrodes and tissue of a patient, and controls one or more parameters of the stimulation delivered to the tissue by the electrodes based on the measured distance. The system controls the measurement of the distance between the electrodes and the tissue as a function of activity of the patient. The system uses, for example, a piezoelectric transducer to sense activity of the patient, and may determine whether or how frequently to measure the distance between electrodes and tissue based on the sensed physical activity. A piezoelectric transducer may be used both to sense activity and to measure the distance between the electrodes and the tissue. | 11-13-2008 |
20080288024 | Medical Transceiver Device and Method - A medical transceiver device for radio-based communication with an implantable medical device has circuitry for transmitting radio-frequency signals to, and/or receiving radio-frequency signals from, the implantable medical device, first and second electrically conductive structures, and an antenna feed network operatively interconnected between the circuitry and the first and second conductive structures. Each of the first and second conductive structures is operable as a transmitting and/or receiving antenna for the radio-frequency signals. The first and second conductive structures emit and/or receive radio waves of different polarizations, and the first and second conductive structures are disposed adjacent each other at a single location in space, thereby providing spatial diversity that is independent of the polarization diversity. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288025 | SMART CHARGER ALIGNMENT INDICATOR - Electrical energy is transmitted to charge the implanted medical device, and an electrical parameter (e.g., a steady-state voltage) indicating a rate at which the implanted medical device is charged by the electrical energy is detected. A threshold (e.g., by modifying a stored threshold value) at which the charge strength indicator generates a user-discernible signal is adjusted based on the detected electrical parameter. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288026 | Electro-Mechanical Connector for Thin Medical Monitoring Patch | 11-20-2008 |
20080288027 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING INGESTION OF MEDICATIONS USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), is configured to automatically detect ingestion of medications to verify that prescribed medications are taken in a timely manner and at the correct dosage. Briefly, individual pills are provided with miniature radio frequency identification (RFID) devices capable of transmitting RFID tag signals, which identify the medication contained within the pill and its dosage. The implanted device is equipped with an RFID transceiver for receiving tag signals from a pill as it is being ingested. The implanted system decodes the tag to identify the medication and its dosage, then accesses an onboard database to verify that the medication being ingested was in fact prescribed to the patient and to verify that the correct dosage was taken. Warning signals are generated if the wrong medication or the wrong dosage was taken. Therapy may also be automatically adjusted. Non-RF-based ID devices are also described, which instead transmit ID data via biphasic current pulses. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288028 | VARIABLE ANTENNA MATCHING NETWORK FOR AN IMPLANTABLE ANTENNA - An implantable medical device can include an implantable antenna for communication with external devices or other internal devices. Changes in the patient's body position, weight, composition or other factors may change the efficiency of the implantable antenna and hinder communication. The disclosed circuit can calculate a value for a matching network for an implantable telemetry circuit to decrease an impedance difference between the implantable telemetry circuit and the implantable antenna or increase or maximize a communication power transfer value associated with the implantable medical device. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288029 | System And Method For Securely Exchanging Sensitive Information With An Implantable Medical Device - A system and method for securely exchanging sensitive information with an implantable medical device is presented. A crypto key stored on an implantable medical device is retrieved by a programmer via a secure short range interface. Sensitive information is encrypted as sensitive data using the crypto key. The encrypted data is stored on the implantable medical device. | 11-20-2008 |
20080300655 | TECHNIQUES TO MONITOR AND TREND NERVE DAMAGE AND RECOVERY - An exemplary method includes implementing a nerve stimulation therapy that includes delivering stimulation energy to a target nerve, periodically acquiring compound action potentials responsive to the delivered stimulation energy and assessing condition of the target nerve based at least in part on the periodically acquired compound action potentials. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300656 | IMPLANTABLE THERAPY SYSTEM - A therapy system for applying an electrical signal to an internal anatomical feature of a patient includes an implantable component and an external component. The external component can be configured into one of multiple selectable operating modes. The therapy system also may include a first external antenna configured to communicate with the implantable component and a second external antenna configured to communicate with the implantable component. Plugging one of the external antennas into the external component automatically configures the external component into one of the operating modes. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300657 | THERAPY SYSTEM - A therapy system for applying an electrical signal to an internal anatomical feature of a patient includes an implantable component and an external component. Initial values for the parameters of a therapy program can be incremented after a predetermined period of time by a predetermined amount to obtain a subsequent value of the parameter and therapy can be applied using the subsequent value. A sensor may be implanted within the patient to determine an activity level of the patient. Weight loss of the patient can be analyzed to determine whether the weight loss corresponds to the activity level of the patient. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300658 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED ANTENNA SYSTEM - The present invention is related to active implantable medical devices comprising an antenna and a band diplexer connected to said antenna. The band diplexer comprises first filter means for a first signal to be transmitted and/or received in a first RF band and second filter means for a second signal to be transmitted and/or received in a second RF band. A method of bidirectional wireless communication is disclosed between an active implantable medical device and an external device, comprising the steps of: communicating unidirectionally from the external device to the implantable medical device over a first wireless link in a first RF band in the MI near-field and communicating unidirectionally from the implantable medical device to the external device over a second wireless link in a second RF band in the EM field. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300659 | Implantable medical device which may be controlled from central station - An implantable medical device (IMD) comprises a transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting medical data sensed from a patient to, and for receiving control signals from, a medical expert (a human medical professional and/or a computerized expert system) at a remote location; an electronic medical treatment device for treating the patient in response to control signals applied thereto; and a sensor circuit, having a sensor circuit output, for producing sensor circuit output signal(s) representing medical data sensed from the patient. The IMD also includes logic device which analyzes the sensor circuit output signal(s) to detect a medical abnormality which requires notification of the medical expert at the remote location, and generates notification signal(s) if required. T/R device transmits the notification signal(s) as well as signal(s) representing a medical state of said patient to the remote location. The logic device is also operative to generate local treatment device control signal(s) based on an analysis of the sensor circuit output signal(s) and to generate a remote treatment device control signal in response to real time remote control signal(s) received from the remote location. The medical treatment device of the IMD thus delivers therapy to the patient in response to either the local treatment device control signal(s) or the remote treatment device control signal(s), or both. | 12-04-2008 |
20080312719 | TRANSDUCER WIRELESS CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A transducer wireless control system provides wireless control of transmit and receive activity of ultrasonic or other types of transducers used as sensors or other applications. In other applications, the transducer wireless control system provides wireless control of the phase of transmitted and received signals to or from ultrasonic or other transducers. For instance, some versions of the transducer wireless control system have options to invert or not invert one or both of a pair of signals, thereby enabling addition and subtraction of RF waveforms. | 12-18-2008 |
20090018618 | TELEMETRY LISTENING WINDOW MANAGEMENT FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An improved arbitration scheme for allowing concurrent stimulation and telemetry listening in a microstimulator is disclosed. A listening window for telemetry is permitted to proceed, and access to the microstimulator's coil granted, during at least a portion of the inter-pulse period that follows the issuance of a stimulation pulse. This is permissible because access to the coil is not needed during the entirety of the inter-pulse period. For example, the listening window can issue during that portion of the inter-pulse period when the decoupling capacitor is discharged, but cannot issue during that portion of the inter-pulse period when the compliance voltage is being generated for the next stimulation pulse. However, because compliance voltage generation occupies only a small portion of the inter-pulse period, the technique is not substantially limited. By allowing the listening window to issue during the majority of the inter-pulse period, the listening window produces smaller gaps between the pulses, and stimulation therapy is thus brought closer to its ideal. | 01-15-2009 |
20090030487 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICE SYSTEM - An implantable device system comprising an implantable medical device, an external transceiver device and a service center. The implantable medical device comprises a battery and an electronic module including a stimulation pulse generator, a sensing stage, a control unit adapted to collect data representing values of operational parameters (e.g. peak or average current consumption, high/low/average voltage level) of the battery and the electronics. The external transceiver device comprises an external transceiver unit and a data communication interface and the service center comprises another data communication interface adapted to allow data communication with the external transceiver device. Service center includes a central database adapted to store data received from the external transceiver per implantable medical device over time, a data evaluation module adapted to evaluate including trending of data stored in the database and a user interface adapted to display trended data and to receive user inputs. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030488 | IMPLANTED ANTENNA AND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS LINK - A medical implant comprising a housing and an antenna member carried by the housing. The antenna member is configured to be capacitively coupled to body tissue in which the housing is implanted. This forms, together with the impedance of the body tissue, part of a resonant circuit. A reference electrode carried by the housing as a return for the antenna member also forms a further part of the resonant circuit. Transceiver circuitry is also provided and is operable as at least one of a source and a load for the antenna member and forms yet a further part of the series resonant circuit | 01-29-2009 |
20090043361 | Pulse Width Adaptation for Inductive Links - A signal processor is described for communication with an implanted medical device. An external processor transmits to the implanted medical device an implant data signal having a sequence of HI and LOW logic states at a fixed data bit rate. The pulse width durations of the HI and LOW logic states is adjustable in response to feedback telemetry data from the implantable medical device. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043362 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SECURE COMMUNICATION OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION - A system and method for providing secure communication of sensitive information is provided. A crypto key unique to an implantable medical device is dynamically generated on a programmer. Sensitive information for the implantable medical device is encrypted using the crypto key. A telemetry connection of at least one of a short range and a long range is established between the implantable medical device and the programmer. The encrypted sensitive information is transmitted to the implantable medical device via the telemetry connection. The crypto key is transmitted to the implantable medical device via the telemetry connection at short range. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048644 | System and method for providing intrabody data security on an active implantable medical device - A system and method for providing intrabody data security on an active implantable medical device is presented. Data is maintained through an active implantable medical device. The data is secured on the active implantable medical device among at least one other active implantable medical device wirelessly interfaced. At least one of access to and use of the data with the other active implantable medical device is limited. Unauthorized changes to the form of the data are prevented. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048645 | STIMULATION SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT OF DYSPHAGIAS - Stimulation system, comprising an implantable stimulation device ( | 02-19-2009 |
20090048646 | ON-DEMAND RETRANSMISSION OF DATA WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - This document discloses, among other things, a telemetry system for requesting and receiving redundant data. A synchronization frame transmitted by an external device includes an echo code. The implantable device responds to the synchronization frame by sending real time data and echo data selected as a function of the echo code. | 02-19-2009 |
20090062887 | Wireless patient communicator for use in a life critical network - A portable housing supports a processor coupled to memory for storing medical firmware and wireless radio firmware, first and second radios, a processor, and a power source. Communications are effected between an implantable medical device and the first radio in accordance with program instructions of the medical firmware, and between the second radio and the wireless network in accordance with program instructions of the wireless radio firmware. The first and second radios are configured to operate cooperatively in a first testing configuration, by which the first radio operates as a transmitter and the second radio operates as a receiver, and cooperatively in a second testing configuration, by which the second radio operates as a transmitter and the first radio operates as a receiver. Functional testing of the first and second radios is implemented using one or both of the first and second testing configurations. | 03-05-2009 |
20090069866 | IMPLANT TESTER - An implant testing device and a method of detecting an airway implant are disclosed. The testing device detects the presence of the implant within a patient's body and can be used to determine its location. The testing device also provides an indication of proper function of the implant electronics. A detector circuit of the testing device generates an output signal representative of proximity of the airway implant. A processing circuit receives the output signal and determines proximity of the implant based on one or more detection thresholds. The processing circuit also provides a visual and/or audible alert. In some embodiments, the processing circuit varies the flash rate of one or more light emitting diodes and/or the pitch of an alert tone based on proximity of the implant. Various embodiments of the testing device are adapted for handheld use and can include a handle, elongated portion, and detector element. | 03-12-2009 |
20090069867 | APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ON-PATIENT COMMUNICATION - An apparatus for providing on-patient communication is described. An implantable medical device including a sensor of physiometry is implanted in a patient. A communication module is remotely interconnected to an interrogation device external to the patient's body and the physiometry is exchanged with the interrogation device. Spoken communication from the patient is received by an implantable microphone including a communication module and is relayed to the interrogation device. voice prompts received from the interrogation device are played by An implantable speaker including a communication module. Pre-defined uniquely identifying patient characteristics are further included with at least one of the implantable medical device, implantable microphone, and implantable speaker and the characteristics are presented on demand by the communication module of the implantable medical device, implantable microphone, and implantable speaker. | 03-12-2009 |
20090069868 | Secure Pairing of Electronic Devices using Dual Means of Communication - The present invention relates to secure paring of electronically controlled devices adapted to communicate with each other. Thus, a medical system is provided comprising a first unit and a second unit, the system comprising first means of communication allowing a first group of data types to be transmitted between the first unit and the second unit, and second means of communication allowing a second group of data types to be transmitted between the first unit and the second unit. In this way different properties of the two means of communication can be used to secure that certain data, e.g. during pairing of the two devices, can be transmitted in a more controlled way whereas other data can be transmitted in a less controlled way. | 03-12-2009 |
20090082833 | TELEMETRY NOISE REDUCTION - A device includes a housing and electronics disposed in the housing. A telemetry antenna is disposed in the housing and is operably coupled to the electronics. A shielding coil is disposed between the housing and the telemetry antenna. The shielding coil has a first end and a second end. The second end is electrically terminated in circuitry of the electronics. | 03-26-2009 |
20090082834 | PROXIMITY SIGNATURE FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION WITH IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Systems, devices and methods employing coded magnetic fields or transfer of encryption key information via proximity telemetry are described. The systems, methods and devices help prevent or reduce unintended or unintentional distance telemetry communication between an external medical device and an implantable medical device. | 03-26-2009 |
20090088821 | Synchronization of implantable medical devices - An implantable medical device is synchronized for operation with an external device in communication therewith, by designating one of the implantable medical device or the external device as a master device, and the other as a slave device. In a first time interval, a reference time associated with the first time interval is transmitted from the master device to the slave device. The slave device sets a clock associated therewith based on the reference time and returns, in a second time interval, a second reference time generated by the slave device based on the first reference time. The master device confirms that the slave device is synchronized therewith if the second reference time is associated with the second time interval. The implantable medical device can then use its synchronized clock for time-stamping physiological data to be transmitted to the external device for processing. | 04-02-2009 |
20090099626 | Lacrimal implant detection - This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising a lacrimal implant insertable at least partially into a lacrimal punctum. The lacrimal implant comprises an implant core, and an implant body. The implant body includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive the implant core. At least one of the implant core and the implant cavity includes a detection device configured to allow automatic detection of the lacrimal implant with a separate detector device. | 04-16-2009 |
20090112290 | DEVICE FOR DETERMINING AN AFTERCARE APPOINTMENT FOR THE SUPPLY OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - The invention relates to a service unit ( | 04-30-2009 |
20090118796 | EXTERNAL CONTROLLER FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM WITH COUPLEABLE EXTERNAL CHARGING COIL ASSEMBLY - An improved integrated external controller/charger system useable with an implantable medical device is disclosed. The system comprises two main components: an external controller and an external charging coil assembly that is coupleable thereto. When the external charging coil assembly is coupled to the external controller, the system can be used to both send and receive data telemetry to and from the implantable medical device, and to send power to the device. Specifically, the external controller controls data telemetry by energizing at least one coil within the external controller, and the external controller controls power transmission by energizing a charging coil in the external charging coil assembly, which is otherwise devoid of its own control, power, and user interface. The result is a cheaper, simpler, more compact, and more convenient data telemetry and charging solution for the patient having a medical implant. | 05-07-2009 |
20090125084 | Access Control for Implanted Medical Devices - Enhanced security is provided in a system comprising a medical device and a monitoring device. The medical device is configured for implantation into a living organism, and comprises processing circuitry and an interface for communicating with the monitoring device. Access to the medical device by the monitoring device is controlled based on measurement of one or more physiological values of the living organism by at least one of the two devices. In an illustrative embodiment, the medical device and the monitoring device are configured to include respective physiological value sensors for measuring respective dynamic physiological values of the living organism. The medical device is further configured to determine if the dynamic physiological values are sufficiently similar to one another and to grant or deny the monitoring device access to the medical device based on the determination. | 05-14-2009 |
20090132007 | Voltage Protection Circuits For Implantable Medical Devices - An implantable medical device has an electronic circuit and a telemetry circuit both connected to a common ground, and at least one RF telemetry antenna that is formed by a number of parts of the implantable device that are capable of functioning as an antenna. When implanted, these parts are in contact with tissue. For voltage protection, the RF antenna circuit is connected to the parts of the RF telemetry antenna via at least one capacitor. The capacitor is dimensioned to withstand a voltage amplitude of a pulse that would be capable of modifying the state of, or destroying, any component in the RF telemetry circuit or the electronic circuit. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132008 | MEDICAL APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - A medical system includes an implantable medical device configured for implantation in a living subject to interact with the subject, an extracorporeal device having a processor that processes information such as programming instructions for the implantable medical device or monitoring data received from the implantable medical device, and at least two antenna devices located at respectively different locations. The implantable medical device communicates with at least one of the two antenna devices, and the extracorporeal device also communicates with the at least two antenna devices to exchange the aforementioned information with the implantable medical device via at least one of the two antenna devices. The at least two antenna devices are physically separated from the extracorporeal device and the extracorporeal device communicates with each of the at least two antenna devices via a communication link that allows the extracorporeal device to be freely moved relative to the at least two antenna devices. The communication link can be a hard-wired communication link or a wireless communication link. | 05-21-2009 |
20090149918 | IMPLANTABLE ANTENNA - An antenna implantable through minimally invasive techniques, preferably comprising a coil with conductive probes is provided. The antenna is preferably superelastic nickel-titanium having an insulative coating. The antenna may conduct a signal originating from a device external to the body of the implantee, or from another implanted device connected to the antenna depending on whether the antenna is employed for sending, receiving, or transceiving signals. Signals may contain data, operational commands, and may be used to transfer power. The implantable antenna may be connected to another implanted device, such as a blood pressure monitor, or may be implanted as a stand-alone device for purposes such as stimulating tissue. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157144 | Phased Deactivation of Functionality in Implantable Medical Device Systems - Embodiments of the invention are related to systems for interfacing with implantable medical devices, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an external medical system including a processor and a telemetry circuit in communication with the processor, the processor configured to communicate with an implanted medical device. The system can be configured to query a system user after a first period of time in which indicators of system use are not detected. The system can be further configured to deactivate one or more data transmission features of the implanted medical device after a second period of time in which one or more indicators of system use are not detected. Other embodiments are also included herein. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157145 | Transfer Coil Architecture - A system of wireless microtransponders, each including a RF resonator circuit for wireless power induction. An external power coil transmits RF energy at a matching or harmonic frequency to deliver power by near field induction to an intermediate, subcutaneous coil. Power is initially transmitted to a subdermal coil and relayed to the subcutaneous coil. The subcutaneous coil is used to transfer the RF signal and power the microtransponder using the resonator circuit. The external power coil RF frequency is tuned to match or be a harmonic of the micro-coil within the resonator. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157146 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH HALL SENSOR - An operating mode of an implantable medical device can be selected using at least one of a current or a voltage provided in response to a magnetic field sensed using a Hall effect sensor. | 06-18-2009 |
20090171420 | Housing for an Implantable Medical Device - An implantable medical device having a concave ceramic housing component; a concave metal housing component attached to the ceramic housing component to form a hermetically sealed enclosure; and an electronic trans-housing magnetic flux component disposed within the enclosure. Another aspect of the invention provides an implantable medical device having a ceramic housing component; a metal housing component; a circumferential sealing member attached to a periphery of the ceramic housing component and to a periphery of the metal housing component to form a hermetically sealed enclosure; and an electronic trans-housing magnetic flux component disposed within the enclosure. Still another aspect of the invention provides an implantable medical device with a first metal housing component; a second metal housing component, the second metal housing component forming an opening; a ceramic housing component disposed in the opening, the first metal housing component, the second metal housing component and the ceramic housing component cooperating to form a hermetically sealed enclosure; and an electronic trans-housing magnetic flux component disposed within the enclosure. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177248 | Synchronizing Clocks on a Medical Device and Server - Methods and systems of patient treatment are disclosed. The methods and systems include use of medical device informatics to modify and validate therapies and drugs used in those therapies. In certain embodiments, a medical device, such as a medical infusion pump, interfaces with a server to administer the patient treatments. In one aspect, a method of synchronizing clocks between a medical device and a medical device server is disclosed. The method includes maintaining a server time value on a medical device server communicatively connected to a medical device, and transmitting the server time value from the medical device server to the medical device, the medical device maintaining a device time value. The method further includes replacing the device time value with the server time value. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177249 | PACKAGE DEPLOYMENT OF DATA BETWEEN A SERVER AND A MEDICAL DEVICE - Methods and systems of patient treatment are disclosed. The methods and systems include use of medical device informatics to modify and validate therapies and drugs used in those therapies. In certain embodiments, a medical device, such as a medical infusion pump, interfaces with a server to administer the patient treatments. In one aspect, a method of deploying information to a medical device is disclosed. The method includes storing information in a data package on a server, the information intended to be delivered to a medical device. The method also includes receiving a message from the medical device, and in response to receiving the message, indicating to the medical device that information intended for the medical device resides on the server. The method further includes receiving a request for the information, and upon receiving the request, delivering the data package to the medical device. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177250 | MEDICAL TELEMETRY SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREFOR - A method in a telemetry system for establishing a connection between a base station and an implantable medical device includes the steps of: starting, in the base station, a first timer B-T | 07-09-2009 |
20090177251 | System And Method For In Situ Trimming Of Oscillators In A Pair Of Implantable Medical Devices - A system and method for in situ trimming of oscillators in a pair of implantable medical devices is provided. Each frequency over a range of oscillator trim frequencies for an initiating implantable medical device is selected and a plurality of commands are sent via an acoustic transducer in situ over the frequency selected. Each frequency over a range of oscillator trim frequencies for a responding implantable medical device is selected and a response to each of the commands received is sent via an acoustic transducer in situ over the frequency selected. The responses received by the initiating implantable medical device are evaluated and a combination of the oscillator trim frequencies for both implantable medical devices that together exhibit a strongest acoustic wave is identified. Oscillators in both implantable medical devices are trimmed to the oscillator trim frequencies in the combination identified. | 07-09-2009 |
20090192573 | COUPLING ELEMENT - An element ( | 07-30-2009 |
20090192574 | ANTENNA FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device in which an antenna is embedded within a dielectric compartment of the device. A helical antenna may be employed to save space while still permitting far-field telemetry over a desired range of frequencies. | 07-30-2009 |
20090198307 | DIRECT INDUCTIVE/ACOUSTIC CONVERTER FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Systems and methods for communicating with or powering implantable medical devices using a direct inductive/acoustic telemetry link are disclosed. An illustrative system includes an interrogator device located outside of the patient's body, an implantable medical device including an energy translator circuit adapted to convert inductive or RF signals received from the interrogator device into an acoustic signal for driving an acoustic transducer, and a remote device adapted to sense one or more parameters within the body. | 08-06-2009 |
20090216297 | TELEMETRY DOUBLE BUFFERING AND OVERSAMPLING FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - This document discusses, among other things, a communication circuit for an IMD comprising a radio frequency (RF) modulator to modulate and demodulate IMD data signals, first and second serial buffer registers to store received demodulated data and to store transmit data for modulation and configured to operate according to a first clock signal, and a parallel buffer register to receive data in parallel from the first and second serial buffer registers and configured to operate according to a second clock signal that is slower than the first clock signal. The communication circuit also includes a telemetry control circuit configured to, when in the receive mode, alternate between serially receiving data into the first serial buffer register while the parallel buffer receives data from the second serial buffer register, and serially receiving data into the second serial buffer register while the parallel buffer receives data from the first serial buffer. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216298 | AUTOMATIC POWER CONTROL FOR A RADIO FREQUENCY TRANSCEIVER OF AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - Power supplied to a particular telemetry system of an implantable device having multiple telemetry systems is managed by a state machine. Power to a transceiver of a device is terminated if the particular telemetry system remains dormant or inactive for a programmable period of time and power to the transceiver is turned on if a particular signal is received by the implantable device. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222065 | Physiological Parameter Analysis for an Implantable Restriction Device and a Data Logger - An implantable restriction device can be configured to provide a restriction in a patient, for example as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device can include one or more sensors configured to sense a variety of parameters, such as pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device, pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse count, pulse duration, or frequency, electrical characteristics, or other parameters. Data obtained by the one or more sensors (for example, the data representing pressure, pulse characteristics, and so on) may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, such as a data logger, using telemetry coils or other communicators. The data logger may store the data, and may communicate the data to a remote location via a network such as the Internet. A docking station may be provided to couple the data logger to a network and/or to recharge a cell in the data logger. The logged data may be analyzed and/or displayed using a variety of techniques to assess and/or track the condition of the restriction device or of the patient, to monitor patient physiology, or for other purposes. | 09-03-2009 |
20090240308 | CARDIAC STIMULATION CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Cardiac stimulation control and communication system, including a pacemaker having a processor for processing input signals to and/or from one or more electrodes located in a heart. A signal processing network for receiving input signals and for providing a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), a filtered signal, spread spectrum signal and/or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) signal to a selector for selection and transmission. In-phase and quadrature-phase cross-correlated spread spectrum signals are provided to a modulator for modulation and transmission of signals received from one or more electrodes or probes or sensors used by a patient. An implantable cardiac stimulation device and a telemetry transmitter and telemetry wired or wireless receiver, for transmission and reception of wireless and or wired signals, wherein said telemetry signals are for monitoring and/or controlling the implantable cardiac stimulation device. A pacemaker, receiver and demodulator for receiving and demodulating a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving location finder signals or a receiver and demodulator for receiving and demodulating other than GPS signals and for providing location finder signals and for connecting said location finder signals to a transmitter for transmitting said location finder signals. A Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signal is provided to a non-quadrature modulator for non-quadrature modulation of TDMA signal and a filtered signal is processed into a cross-correlated spread spectrum in-phase and quadrature-phase filtered signal and provided to a quadrature modulator for quadrature modulation of said cross-correlated spread spectrum filtered signal. The transmitted signals are received and used by a nurse or other health professionals. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240309 | Folded Antenna For Implanted Medical Device - A folded monopole RF telemetry antenna is contained within a dielectric portion of an implantable medical device housing, which dielectric portion can be a biocompatible epoxy. The monopole antenna is formed from a wire or strip of conductive material which may be conformed inside the outer boundary of the epoxy housing. One end of the monopole antenna is free inside the epoxy, the other end of the antenna is electrically coupled to the circuit ground which, in turn, is connected to the metal housing portion, acting as a ground plane. The length of the antenna can be sized to be self-resonating at a frequency of about 403.5 MHz with at least a 3 MHz bandwidth. | 09-24-2009 |
20090248112 | Wireless Implantable Medical Device - One aspect of the invention relates to an implantable medical device comprising a device housing ( | 10-01-2009 |
20090248113 | Microelectrode, Applications Thereof And Method Of Manufacturing - An electrode device is disclosed. The electrode device comprises an electrically conductive core of micrometric size coated by at least one electrically isolating layer. The electrically conductive core comprises a substrate coated by at least one metallic layer having a nanometric pattern thereon and being at least partially exposed at a tip of the electrically conductive core. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248114 | REVERSIBLE IMPLANTABLE ACOUSTIC SENSOR - An implantable medical device having an acoustic element includes a control module coupled to the acoustic element, an acoustic sensing module coupled to the control module, and a patient alert driver module coupled to the control circuit. The patient alert driver module generates a patient alert drive signal for activating the acoustic element to emit a patient alert signal. The control module includes an isolation circuit for isolating the acoustic sensing module from the acoustic element in response to the patient alert drive signal. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248115 | Telemetry Control for Implantable Medical Devices - An implantable medical device (IMD) and method are provided in which a telemetry module in the IMD includes a configurable polling interval at which the telemetry module is powered up from a low power inactive state to perform sniff operations for detecting whether communication signals are being received from an external device. The IMD includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one parameter, a controller receiving data from the sensor, and the telemetry module coupled to the controller for facilitating communication between the IMD and an external device. The polling interval of the telemetry module is configured based upon the parameter(s) sensed by the sensor, such that the polling interval is configured to conserve power consumption of the IMD. The polling interval is either decreased or increased to respectively increase or decrease the frequency of the sniff operations based on the parameters sensed at the IMD. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248116 | Method and Apparatus for the Staged Detection of RF Energy - A low power method and apparatus for detecting wake-up signals in sniff processing performed in an implantable medical device (IMD) using a staged detection of RF energy in signals received in order to conserve current consumption. Incoming signals are monitored in a plurality of detection stages which each incrementally increase the accuracy of detecting whether the received signal is a wake-up communication signal. A desired number of stages of signal quantity measurements are performed such that a combined signal quantity is calculated by updating the signal quantity measurements performed in prior stages with signal quantity measurements performed at each stage. The combined signal quantity of the received communication signal is compared at each detection stage against a corresponding threshold value for that stage. The staged detection process aborts sniff processing if the combined signal quantity fails to meet the corresponding threshold value for that stage. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248117 | ROBUST HIGH POWER AND LOW POWER CARDIAC LEADS HAVING INTEGRATED SENSORS - A lead of an implantable medical device system having an elongated lead body and a sensor coupled to the lead body and extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The sensor includes a first portion extending from a top to a bottom, and from a proximal end to a distal end and a second portion engaged against the first portion and extending from a top to a bottom, the top of the second portion extending from a proximal end to a distal end. A first flange extends proximally relative to the proximal end of the top of the second portion to a first flange end, and a second flange extends distally relative to the distal end of the top of the second portion to a second flange end, wherein the first flange end is aligned with the proximal end of the first portion and the second flange end is aligned with the distal end of the first portion. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248118 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE RELATIVE POSITION AND ORIENTATION OF NEUROSTIMULATION LEADS - Interelectrode impedance or electric field potential measurements are used to determine the relative orientation of one lead to other leads in the spinal column or other body/tissue location. Interelectrode impedance is determined by measuring impedance vectors. The value of the impedance vector is due primarily to the electrode-electrolyte interface, and the bulk impedance between the electrodes. The bulk impedance between the electrodes is, in turn, made up of (1) the impedance of the tissue adjacent to the electrodes, and (2) the impedance of the tissue between the electrodes. In one embodiment, the present invention makes both monopolar and bipolar impedance measurements, and then corrects the bipolar impedance measurements using the monopolar measurements to eliminate the effect of the impedance of the tissue adjacent the electrodes. The orientation and position of the leads may be inferred from the relative minima of the corrected bipolar impedance values. These corrected impedance values may also be mapped and stored to facilitate a comparison with subsequent corrected impedance measurement values. Such comparison allows a determination to be made as to whether the lead position and/or orientation has changed appreciably over time. In another embodiment, one or more electrodes are stimulated and the resulting electric field potential on the non-stimulated electrodes is measured. Such field potential measurements provide an indication of the relative orientation of the electrodes. Once known, the relative orientation may be used to track lead migration, to setup stimulation configurations and parameters for nominal stimulation and/or navigation. Also, such measurements allow automatic adjustment of stimulation energy to a previously-defined optimal potential field in the case of lead migration or postural changes. | 10-01-2009 |
20090264964 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RADIO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND AN EXTERNAL BASE UNIT - In a system and method for radio communication between an implantable medical device (IMD) and an external base unit, respectively including transceivers for communication therebetween, the external base unit, according to a predetermined criterion, sends a sleep message to the IMD transceiver, requesting the IMD transceiver to switch power-consuming circuitry in the IMD to a sleep, power-down mode of operation for a predetermined sleep time period. | 10-22-2009 |
20090270948 | ANTENNA ARRANGEMENTS FOR IMPLANTABLE THERAPY DEVICE - Embodiments of an implantable medical device includes a loop antenna wound about an inner housing. The loop antenna may form a partial winding, a complete winding, or multiple windings about the inner housing. One or more additional antennae may be capacitively coupled to the loop antenna external to the inner housing to increase efficiency and decrease Return Loss Response of the implantable device. The additional antenna may be balanced or unbalanced antennae. | 10-29-2009 |
20090270949 | EXTERNAL STIMULUS FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION WITH IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - The present invention relates to systems, devices and methods for accessing an implantable medical device when the security key is not known. The systems, methods and devices help to access an implantable medical device through a back door to permit non-secure communications. The systems, devices, and methods require short range external stimulus to indicate to the implantable medical device that a valid communication is about to be received. | 10-29-2009 |
20090270950 | Adaptive Interference Reduction During Telemetry - An implantable medical device has a first module for performing telemetry communications with another device and a second module for delivering a high voltage therapy to a patient. The first module is configured to detect a communication error, and the second module is configured to determine a need for the therapy and to charge a capacitor in response to the need for the therapy. The second module is configured to suspend the capacitor charging in response to receiving a notification from the first module corresponding to detecting a communication error. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276009 | PRE-CONFIGURATION OF ELECTRODE MEASUREMENT OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFORE - Method, controller and system for an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes, the implantable medical device capable of delivering therapeutic stimulation to a patient, comprising a control module, a user interface operatively coupled to the control module, the user interface providing control of the control module by a medical professional or other user, and an electrode interface operatively coupled between the plurality of electrodes and the control module. The control module uses the electrode interface to obtain a plurality of measurements of integrity metrics for a plurality of selected pairs of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes. The control module determines a prescriptive analysis using the plurality of measurements of integrity metrics of the selected pairs of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes comparative to a range, and the user interface displays the prescriptive analysis. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276010 | FLAGGING OF ELECTRODES OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, CONTROLLER, SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFORE - Method, controller and system for an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes, the implantable medical device capable of delivering therapeutic stimulation to a patient, comprising a control module, a user interface operatively coupled to the control module, the user interface providing control of the control module by a medical professional or other user, and an electrode interface operatively coupled between the plurality of electrodes and the control module. The control module uses the electrode interface to obtain a plurality of measurements of impedance values for a plurality of selected pairs of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes. The control module flags electrodes using the plurality of measurements of impedance values of the selected pairs of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes comparative to a range, and the delivery of therapy on flagged electrodes is inhibited. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276011 | Intrusion resistant implantable medical device - Provided embodiments include a device, apparatus, system, computer program product, and method. A medical apparatus is provided. At least a portion of which is configured for implantation in an animal. The medical apparatus includes a communication module configured to receive communications originating external to the animal. The medical apparatus also includes a threat assessment module configured to ascertain a threat characteristic of a communication received by the communication module. The medical apparatus further includes a threat mitigation module configured to implement a mitigation measure responsive to the ascertained threat characteristic of the received communication. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276012 | Secure operation of implanted device - Provided embodiments include a device, apparatus, system, computer program product, and method. A provided method includes a method implemented in a medical apparatus implanted in an animal and configured to at least one of transmit or receive a communication externally of the animal. The method includes receiving a communication. The method also includes detecting an indication of a malware in the received communication. The method further includes implementing in the implanted medical device a countermeasure responsive to the detected indication of malware in the received communication. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276013 | Emergency management system - The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for: | 11-05-2009 |
20090281597 | TRANSCEIVER FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE HAVING SWITCHABLE SERIES-TO-PARALLEL TANK CIRCUIT - An improved transceiver circuit particularly useful in an inductively coupled wireless communication system such as an implantable medical device system is disclosed. The improved transceiver circuit is switchable to assume a serial L-C configuration in the transmit mode and a parallel L-C configuration in the receive mode, but does not require high voltage switches. A low-drive transmitter and a high-input-impedance receiver are used, which reduces power consumption in receive mode, while still maintaining good transmitter performance. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281598 | CONDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REMOTE MEDICAL DEVICE PROGRAMMING - A remote programming method is provided for safe and secure programming of a medical device at a remote location. A centralized programming instrument for use by a clinician or third party is provided with a network communication connection with a remote external medical device, such as a home programmer or monitor. The external medical device is located in the vicinity of a patient having an implantable medical device (IMD) and is in bi-directional telemetric communication with the IMD to allow instructions received from the centralized programming instrument to be transferred to the IMD. The remote programming method used for transferring information between the central programming instrument and an IMD includes measures to promote safe and secure remote programming of the IMD, which measures may include authorization requirements, programming condition requirements, implementation of programmed data requirements, and maintenance of a remote programming log. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281599 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF RAPID, COMFORTABLE PARAMETER SWITCHING IN SPINAL CORD STIMULATION - A system and method for rapidly switching stimulation parameters of a Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) system increases the number of stimulation parameter sets that may be tested during a fitting procedure, or alternatively, reduces the time required for the fitting procedure. The switching method comprises selecting a new stimulation parameter set, and setting the initial stimulation levels to levels at or just below an estimated perception threshold of the patient. The estimated perception level is based on previous stimulation results. The stimulation level is then increased to determine a minimum stimulation level for effective stimulation, and/or an optimal stimulation level, and/or a maximum stimulation level, based on patient perception. | 11-12-2009 |
20090292340 | Regulatory Compliant Transmission of Medical Data Employing a Patient Implantable Medical Device and a Generic Network Access Device - Various embodiments concern a method which may include communicating medical information between a PIMD and an interface module via a first channel in compliance with a predetermined medical information regulatory standard, preventing access to the PIMD via the interface module other than through the first channel, detecting a communication protocol used by an available generic network access device, selecting a communication protocol rule set from a plurality of communication protocol rule sets to effect communication between the interface device and an available generic network access device of a plurality of generic network access devices, and transferring at least some of the medical information to the remote network via a second channel established between the interface module and the available generic network access device using the selected communication protocol rule set. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299438 | INDICATION OF COUPLING BETWEEN MEDICAL DEVICES - Techniques for providing an indication of coupling between medical devices are disclosed. For example, when a programming device and a telemetry module are coupled, the telemetry module provides a first indication, and the programming device provides a second indication substantially similar to the first indication. The indications may be, for example, colors, and different indications may signify communication with different implantable medical devices, programming different therapies, or use of different applications of the programming device. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299439 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND TOOL FOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES - A surgical tool is disclosed that is capable of communicating wirelessly with either a neural integrity monitoring system or a surgical navigation system. The surgical tool includes electronic circuitry operable to provide a neural stimulation signal to a surgical instrument connected with the tool. If a predetermined response is received by the neural integrity monitoring system, it is capable of automatically stopping rotation of the surgical instrument. Further, if a predetermined safe threshold is breached or about to be breached, the surgical navigation system is operable to automatically stop rotation of the surgical instrument. In addition, the surgical tool is provided with audio and visual feedback of the neurological status of the patient. | 12-03-2009 |
20090306747 | INTERACTIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATOR DEVICE AND SERVER-BASED SUPPORT SYSTEM - A portable electro-therapy device includes a microprocessor configured to generate and control electrical stimulation output signals, an electrode jack, a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to the electrode jack and configured to transmit the electrical stimulation output signals to a patient, a modem communication port, and a modem configured to provide communication between the portable electro-therapy device and a server-based support system. A server-based support system includes an application server configured to provide an interface to the server-based support system to authorized users, a resources server configured to securely store patient data, and a modem bank configured to provide communication between the portable electro-therapy device and the server-based support system. | 12-10-2009 |
20090312821 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Implantable medical device ( | 12-17-2009 |
20090326609 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MONITORING THE ACOUSTIC COUPLING OF MEDICAL DEVICES - Systems and methods for monitoring the acoustic coupling of medical devices is disclosed. An illustrative system for monitoring the acoustic coupling of an acoustic transducer attached to a patient's body includes a signal generator adapted to supply an electrical signal to the transducer, a circuit configured to measure at least one electrical parameter of the transducer, and a processor adapted to evaluate the degree of acoustic coupling of the transducer to the body based on the measured electrical signal. The processor can measure the frequency response of the acoustic transducer to the electrical signal, a time domain response of the acoustic transducer to the electrical signal, or a combination of both. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326610 | Systems and methods for interacting with an implantable medical device - An interactive implantable medical device system includes an implantable medical device and a network-enabled external device capable of bi-directional communication and interaction with the implantable medical device. The external device is programmed to interact with other similarly-enabled devices. The system facilitates improved patient care by eliminating unnecessary geographic limitations on implantable medical device interrogation and programming, and by allowing patients, physicians, and other users to access medical records, history, and information and to receive status and care-related alerts and messages anywhere there is access to a communications network. | 12-31-2009 |
20100004718 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER - An implantable medical device comprises a hermetically sealed housing having a housing wall with an interior surface, and an ultrasonic acoustic transducer, the transducer comprising one or more piezoelectric discs fixed to the interior surface of the housing wall, such that the housing wall acts as a diaphragm in response to induced movement by the one or more piezoelectric material discs. | 01-07-2010 |
20100010575 | PATIENT INTERACTION WITH POSTURE-RESPONSIVE THERAPY - In general, the disclosure relates to the delivery of therapy according to a detected posture state of a patient. The disclosure contemplates a variety of techniques for managing therapy delivered to a patent, including patient and clinician interaction with a medical device configured to deliver therapy according to posture state. In one example, the disclosure relates to a technique including receiving an indication from an external device to resume delivery of therapy to a patient that was previously turned off, wherein the therapy that was previously turned off comprises therapy delivered to the patient according to a detected posture state of the patient; obtaining therapy information defining the therapy; and resuming the delivery of therapy to the patient in response to the receipt of the indication, wherein the delivery of therapy is resumed according to the obtained therapy information. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010576 | PATIENT INTERACTION WITH POSTURE-RESPONSIVE THERAPY - In general, the disclosure relates to the delivery of therapy according to a detected posture state of a patient. The disclosure contemplates a variety of techniques for managing therapy delivered to a patent, including patient and clinician interaction with a medical device configured to deliver therapy according to posture state. In one example, the disclosure relates to a technique including obtaining an operational status of a therapy group from a medical device, wherein the medical device is configured to deliver therapy to a patient according to a detected posture state of the patient; and presenting the operational status of the therapy group via an external device, wherein presenting the operational status of the therapy group comprises presenting whether the therapy group is active for delivery of therapy. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010577 | LINKING POSTURE STATES FOR POSTURE RESPONSIVE THERAPY - The disclosure is directed towards posture-responsive therapy. To avoid interruptions in effective therapy, an implantable medical device may include a posture state module that detects the posture state of the patient and automatically adjusts therapy parameter values according to the detected posture state. A system may include a user interface that receives user input linking a plurality of posture states of a patient, and selecting a set of therapy parameter values for delivery of therapy to the patient for each of a linked posture states, a processor that defines the therapy to be delivered to the patient for each of the linked posture states based on the selection, and an implantable medical device that delivers the therapy to the patient for each of the linked posture states based on the selection. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010578 | PATIENT ASSIGNMENT OF THERAPY PARAMETER TO POSTURE STATE - The disclosure is directed towards posture-responsive therapy. To avoid interruptions in effective therapy, an implantable medical device may include a posture state module that detects the posture state of the patient and automatically adjusts therapy parameter values according to the detected posture state. A system may include an implantable medical device that delivers therapy to a patient according to a set of therapy parameter values while the patient occupies a first posture state, a user interface that receives patient input associating one or more of the therapy parameter values with a second posture state different from the first posture state, and a processor that automatically defines therapy for delivery to the patient when the patient occupies the second posture state based on the associated therapy parameter values. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010579 | ASSIGNMENT OF THERAPY PARAMETER TO MULTIPLE POSTURE STATES - The disclosure is directed towards posture-responsive therapy. To avoid interruptions in effective therapy, an implantable medical device may include a posture state module that detects the posture state of the patient and automatically adjusts therapy parameter values according to the detected posture state. A system may include an external programmer comprising a user interface that receives user input defining therapy parameter values for delivery of therapy to a patient, and user input associating one or more of the therapy parameter values with a plurality of posture states based on user input, a processor that automatically defines therapy parameter values for delivery of therapy to a patient when the patient occupies the posture states based on the association, and an implantable medical device that delivers the therapy to the patient in response to detection of the posture states. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010580 | DEFINING THERAPY PARAMETER VALUES FOR POSTURE STATES - The disclosure is directed towards posture-responsive therapy. To avoid interruptions in effective therapy, an implantable medical device may include a posture state module that detects the posture state of the patient and automatically adjusts therapy parameter values according to the detected posture state. A system may include an external programmer comprising a user interface that receives user input defining therapy parameter values for delivery of therapy to a patient, and user input associating one or more of the therapy parameter values with a plurality of posture states based on user input, a processor that automatically defines therapy parameter values for delivery of therapy to a patient when the patient occupies the posture states based on the association, and an implantable medical device that delivers the therapy to the patient in response to detection of the posture states. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010581 | METHOD FOR CLOCK MANAGEMENT FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device is capable of delivering the therapeutic output to the patient. A controller, programmable by a medical professional, is operatively coupled to the implantable medical device to, in part, program the therapeutic output to be delivered to the patient. The controller has an interface allowing the medical professional to select an amount of the therapeutic output to be delivered to the patient in at least one of the series of discrete timer intervals. However, the therapeutic output deliver to the patient is dependant upon the clock time to which the infusion device. In certain situations the infusion device clock time may have inaccuracies that grow over time. The clock time can be reset by the infusion programmer but a method must be in place to determine and account for resetting the infusion device clock time that controls when the therapy will be delivered. | 01-14-2010 |
20100016924 | MEDICAL IMPLANT HAVING AT LEAST TWO DATA COMMUNICATION CHANNELS - A medical implant has at least one interface for bidirectional wireless data exchange, a data memory, and a controller. The controller and interface perform a wireless data exchange with at least two different external devices, resulting in at least two different data communication channels, one channel being assigned to data communication with the programming device and a second channel being assigned to data communication with a central service center. The medical implant is also designed to receive control commands and/or messages over the second channel while the second channel is active, and to recognize received control commands and/or messages intended for a programming device, store them temporarily in a memory (if necessary), and forward them to a programming device via the first channel when the first channel is active. | 01-21-2010 |
20100016925 | MULTI-ANTENNA FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system for enabling telemetry in implantable medical devices is provided. An implantable medical device has radio-frequency telemetry capabilities. The device includes a housing and electronic circuitry contained within the housing. The device also includes an array of antennas connected to the electronic circuitry. According to various embodiments, the array and circuitry are adapted to facilitate far-field transmission and reception of modulated radio-frequency energy at one or more specified carrier frequencies. Individual antenna elements in the array are connected simultaneously or in a mutually exclusive manner to electronic circuitry, according to various embodiments. Individual antenna element geometries are sized to optimize individual antennas each for a different range of operating frequencies, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023091 | ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION OF IMPLANTABLE DEVICE STATUS - An operational status of an implantable medical device is monitored. The implantable medical device includes a biosensor and an acoustic transducer adapted to transmit and receive acoustic signals. An acoustic link is established with the implantable medical device via a remote acoustic transducer adapted to receive acoustic signals from the implantable medical device and to transmit acoustic signals. Data related to the operational status of the implantable medical device is received from the implantable medical device via the acoustic link. | 01-28-2010 |
20100030302 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING TRENDED DATA RETRIEVED FROM A MEDICAL DEVICE - A system for displaying trended data retrieved from a medical device comprising a medical device which monitors and stores trended patient data, a data center, and an intermediate data relay device. The intermediate device receives stored trended patient data from the medical device and uploads the data to the data center. The data center merges the uploaded data with patient data obtained during previous data uploads. Clinicians can access the uploaded and merged patient using an interactive web page which allows the clinicians to seamlessly view the data. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030303 | MONITORING AMBIENT NOISE ON COMMUNICATION CHANNELS USED TO COMMUNICATE WITH MEDICAL DEVICES - A medical device for wirelessly communicating with at least one implantable medical device (IMD) comprises a telemetry circuit that monitors an ambient noise on one or more communication channels used for the wireless communication with the at least one IMD. The medical device also includes a network interface that transmits data corresponding to the monitored ambient noise to a data storage device external from the device. The data storage device may retrieve and present the data corresponding to the monitored ambient noise received from one or more medical devices to facilitate identification or characterization of noise sources, designing or updating medical devices to compensate for ambient noise, or troubleshooting or otherwise analyzing operation of the medical devices. In some cases, the data storage device may automatically analyze the ambient noise to and, for example, provide alerts relating to ambient noise or medical device operation. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030304 | ADJUSTABLE IMPEDANCE MATCHING CIRCUIT - An implantable medical device with a medical module, an antenna, a transceiver and an impedance match circuit. The transceiver is operatively coupled to the antenna and the medical module and facilitates wireless transmission of data between the medical module and an external device. The impedance match circuit is operatively coupled between the transceiver and the antenna and has a plurality of predetermined selectable configurations, each providing a particular impedance matching characteristic. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036459 | SIGNALING IN A MEDICAL IMPLANT BASED SYSTEM - Signaling in a medical implant based system. A method includes transmitting bits modulated with a predefined sequence in a band of channels by a first medical transceiver. The method includes detecting the predefined sequence by a second medical transceiver. The method also includes performing predetermined action if the predefined sequence is detected. In one example, the predetermined action includes determining presence of a signal. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036460 | PARALLEL SEARCH CIRCUIT FOR A MEDICAL IMPLANT RECEIVER - Parallel search circuit for a medical implant receiver. The circuit includes a radio frequency receiver that receives a first set of contents of a band of channels. The circuit also includes a processing circuit coupled to the radio frequency receiver to process in parallel a second set of contents of a plurality of channels of the band of channels and to detect a signal in the band of channels. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036461 | POLLING MECHANISM IN A MEDICAL IMPLANT BASED SYSTEM - Polling mechanism in a medical implant based system. A method for operating a receiver includes searching for a signal by a receiver. The method further includes entering into an inactive state for a predefined time interval, if the signal is not detected. The method also includes altering at least one of sensitivity and the predefined time interval if number of times the searching is performed without detecting the signal exceeds a threshold. Moreover, the method includes searching for the signal with at least one of altered sensitivity and altered predefined time when the receiver enters into an active state. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036462 | POWER OPTMIZATION IN A MEDICAL IMPLANT BASED SYSTEM - Power optimization in a medical implant based system. A method includes receiving a portion of a signal by a first transceiver. The method further includes determining, from the portion of the signal, a time duration after which a subsequent portion of the signal will be transmitted. The subsequent portion is transmitted at end of the portion. The method also includes entering into an inactive state for the time duration. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036463 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE TELEMETRY WITH PERIODIC FREQUENCY HOPPING - A far-field radio-frequency (RF) telemetry system for data transmission between an implantable medical device and an external system includes a plurality of channels each representing a frequency band within a predetermined frequency range. The data transmission is performed using at least one active channel at any instant. Channel hopping is performed on a periodic basis throughout a telemetry session such that the active channel keeps scanning through an array of channels selected from the plurality of channels. If a data frame is not successfully transmitted, it is repeatedly re-transmitted using the current and/or the next active channels until its transmission becomes successful. | 02-11-2010 |
20100057167 | System and Method for the Interrogation of Implantable Medical Devices - A system and method are provided for interrogating an implantable medical device (IMD) using a platform-independent interrogation process with an interrogator device, such that the interrogation is initiated by the interrogator device without requiring information relating to the location of where the diagnostic data is stored in the memory of the IMD and without requiring information related to the type or format of the diagnostic data. By utilizing a platform-independent interrogation process, a generic universal interrogation process can be utilized that can be extended across IMDs and interrogator devices capable of having different platforms. Further, the platform-independent interrogation process allows an interrogation device to interrogate different types of IMDs, and also allows IMDs to be interrogated by different types of interrogator devices, thereby allowing IMDs and interrogator devices to be interchangeably used and easily updated without requiring entire interrogation system reconfigurations. | 03-04-2010 |
20100070002 | Systems configured to locate a photonic device disposed in a living subject, and related apparatuses and methods - In an embodiment, a system includes a biocompatible photonic device configured for disposal within a living subject and a location-indicating aid associated with the photonic device. The location-indicating aid is configured to facilitate locating the biocompatible photonic device within the living subject. Related apparatuses and methods of use are also disclosed. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076522 | ELECTRIC THERAPY SYSTEM AND THERAPY DEVICE - The invention relates to a therapy system and a therapy device having at least one data communication interface which can operate in various data transmission modes and cooperates with a data communication control unit. The data communication interface can change from one data transmission mode to another without interruption of an existing data link. The change is controlled by the data communication control unit as a function of predefined selection criteria. | 03-25-2010 |
20100082080 | TELEMETRY ANTENNA FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A telemetry antenna for an implantable medical device includes one or more segments having a non-linear configuration. In some embodiments, the non-linear configuration provides an antenna having a greater antenna length than the linear lengthwise dimension of the antenna structure. In some embodiments, the non-linear configuration includes a plurality of trapezoidal unit structures. | 04-01-2010 |
20100100156 | Antenna Insulation for an Implantable Medical Device - An implantable medical device includes a hermetically sealed housing that contains electronic circuitry. A feedthrough is disposed on an external surface of the housing. An antenna wire is disposed around the external surface of the housing. The antenna wire has one end connected to the feedthrough so that the antenna wire is in electric communication with at least a portion of the electronic circuitry. A heat shrink tube is sealingly disposed about substantially the entire external surface of the antenna wire to prevent fluids from contacting the antenna wire and thereby detuning the antenna wire. An antenna surround is disposed about the tube. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100157 | IMPEDANCE-CONTROLLED IMPLANTABLE TELEMETRY ANTENNA - A physical arrangement can be provided between at least a portion of a first segment of an implantable antenna with respect to a return conductor, and an input impedance of the implantable antenna can be controlled using the physical arrangement to provide a substantially conjugate match to an output impedance of an implantable telemetry circuit coupled to the implantable antenna. | 04-22-2010 |
20100106220 | TIMING COORDINATION OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL SENSOR MODULES - In general, the disclosure is directed toward an implantable medical device that includes a plurality of sensor modules that are implanted within a patient. The sensor modules may cooperate with each other to coordinate the timing for performance of one or more sensor actions across the modules when making a measurement. Example measurements include tissue perfusion measurements, oxygen sensing measurements, sonomicrometry measurements, and pressure measurements. The coordination of the sensor modules may be controlled by a signal that is transmitted from a host controller to the sensor modules via a bus. In some examples, the bus may have two wires that transmit both timing information and data information to the sensor modules. The signal may be a signal that is substantially periodic, such as a pulsed signal. In additional examples, the signal may supply operating power and timing information to the sensor modules. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106221 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH ELECTRIC ACUPUNCTURE FUNCTION - A wireless communication device includes a power source, a control unit, a main unit, a conversion unit, a switch unit and an output unit. The control unit is configured for generating a control signal according to predetermined properties for an electric acupuncture and outputting an on signal. The main unit is configured for implementing communication functions of the wireless communication device. The conversion unit is configured for modulating a voltage from the power source according to the control signal to generate a series of electric pulses, the electric pulses ranging from 100 to 180 volts with a frequency at 0 to 20 hertz. The switch unit is configured for receiving the on signal and the electric pulses and outputting the electric pulses according to the on signal. The output unit is configured for receiving the electric pulses and applying the electric pulses to a user. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106222 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INITIATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A HOME MONITORING DEVICE AND AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - In a method and system for establishing a wireless communication session between an implantable medical device IMD and a home monitoring device, the home monitoring device frequently sends communication-initiating signals to an IMD arranged within the body of a patient for establishing a communication session between the monitoring device and the IMD. In order to save energy, RF telemetry circuitry of the IMD is normally set in a low-power, idle mode. Occasionally, the RF circuitry will leave the low-power mode and enter an active mode in which it is able to detect a communication-initiating signal transmitted by the monitoring device. When a communication-initiating signal is detected, the IMD will respond accordingly to the monitoring device and a communication session will be established. In the present invention, the telemetry circuitry of the IMD will be controlled to wake up from low-power mode and enter an active detection mode independently of the transmission of the communication-initiating signals from the monitoring device. Hence, the external monitoring device will frequently transmit communication-initiating signals, but the IMD will only detect a wakeup signal when leaving its low-power mode and entering active mode at a predetermined instant of time. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106223 | UNIVERSAL RECHARGING OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques associated with a universal recharging device for recharging a power source of implantable medical devices (IMDs). The recharging device includes an interface to allow an antenna assembly to be removably coupled. The antenna assembly has a primary coil and a corresponding sense coil. The sense coil has a configuration that is selected based on the configuration of the primary coil. The sense coil is adapted to prevent voltage across the primary coil from exceeding a maximum voltage amplitude allowable with the recharging device. The maximum voltage amplitude may be selected based on a maximum magnetic field strength to which a patient is to be exposed. In one embodiment, the maximum voltage amplitude is programmable. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106224 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH TWO OR MORE TELEMETRY SYSTEMS - An implantable medical device comprises a near field telemetry module, a far field telemetry module, and a processor in electrical communication with the near field telemetry module and the far field telemetry module. The processor is configured to establish, in relation to a communication signal received by the near field telemetry module, a time period during which communication via the far field telemetry module is available, authenticate a far field communication session using the far field telemetry module, and communicate using the far field telemetry module upon authentication of the communication session. | 04-29-2010 |
20100114243 | PRESELECTOR INTERFERENCE REJECTION AND DYNAMIC RANGE EXTENSION - A wireless telemetry module and associated method reject interference in a received signal. The wireless telemetry module includes an antenna receives a communication signal transmitted at a desired channel frequency and having a channel bandwidth. A transceiver is controlled to operate in receiving and transmitting modes by a processor. An interference rejection module receives control signals from the processor corresponding to the desired channel frequency and is coupled between the antenna and the transceiver when the transceiver is operating in the receiving mode. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114244 | ELECTRICAL RENAL AUTONOMIC BLOCKADE - Electrical stimulation may be configured to decrease renal sympathetic activity by creating at least a partial functional conduction block in the efferent and/or afferent sympathetic nerve fibers that innervate the kidneys. An electrical stimulator may deliver a stimulation signal to a renal nerve of a patient. The stimulation signal may be a biphasic signal with a frequency of approximately 100 hertz to 20 kilohertz. In some examples, a sensor may sense a physiological parameter of the patient, and the stimulation generator may activate, deactivate, or adjust the stimulation signal based on the physiological parameter. The physiological parameter may be indicative of sympathetic activity within the patient. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114245 | Antenna for Implantable Medical Devices Formed on Extension of RF Circuit Substrate and Method for Forming the Same - An antenna for an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided that is formed on the same substrate as the telemetry circuitry for the IMD. The telemetry circuitry is formed on a portion of the substrate within the interior of a housing for the IMD, while at least one antenna is formed on an exterior portion of the substrate on the exterior of the housing to allow for far field telemetry. At least one electrical interconnect is formed on the substrate for connecting the antenna to the telemetry circuitry, where the electrical interconnect may comprise a controlled impedance line to minimize loss. A conformally-shaped hermetic cover, such as a ceramic material, may be formed in a desired shape around the exterior portion of the substrate and antenna and cofired together to form a monolithic structure encasing the antenna and exterior portion of the substrate. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114246 | Co-Fired Multi-Layer Antenna for Implantable Medical Devices and Method for Forming the Same - An antenna for an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided including a monolithic structure derived from a plurality of discrete dielectric layers having an antenna embedded within the plurality of dielectric layers. The antenna includes antenna portions formed within different layers of the monolithic structure with at least one conductive via formed to extend through the dielectric layers in order to provide a conductive pathway between the portions of the antenna formed on different layers, such that an antenna is formed that extends between different vertical layers. The dielectric layers may comprise layers of ceramic material that can be co-fired together with the antenna to form a hermetically sealed monolithic antenna structure. The antenna embedded within the monolithic structure can be arranged to have a substantially spiral, helical, fractal, meandering or planer serpentine spiral shape. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114247 | SYSTEM, AN APPARATUS AND A CONTAINER FOR STORING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, AND A METHOD FOR PACKAGING SUCH A DEVICE - An implantable medical device is stored in a container prior to implantation in body tissue. The, IMD includes transmitter/receiver circuitry and at least one antenna. The storage container (packaging) includes an impedance altering substance positioned in proximity to the IMD when stored in the container, the substance having electrical material properties that alter the input impedance of the antenna to improve receive and transmit properties of the antenna when the IMD is stored in the container. A container for storing an IMD having an antenna has a packaging tray for housing the IMD, the packaging tray having a support for supporting the IMD and the container includes a substance positioned in proximity to the support that has electrical material properties that after the input impedance of the antenna of the IMD supported by the support, so as to improve receive and transmit properties of the antenna. A method for packaging an IMD prior to implantation in body tissue includes the step of providing such an impedance altering substance in the pre-implantation IMD packaging, in proximity to the packaged IMD. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114248 | ISOLATION OF SENSING AND STIMULATION CIRCUITRY - The disclosure describes techniques of reducing or eliminating a commonality between two modules within the same implantable medical device. Each module within the implantable medical device provides therapy to a patient. The commonality between the two modules exists due to at least one common component shared by the two modules. The commonality between the two modules may create common-mode interference and a shunt current. In accordance with this disclosure, various isolation circuits located at various locations are disclosed to reduce or eliminate the commonality between the two modules. The reduction or elimination of the commonality between the two modules may reduce or eliminate common-mode interference and the shunt current. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114249 | NON-HERMETIC DIRECT CURRENT INTERCONNECT - A modular implantable medical device (IMD) may include a non-hermetic interconnect. The non-hermetic interconnect may electrically couple a first module and a second module of the modular IMD. A conductor in the non-hermetic interconnect may conduct electrical energy from the first module to the second module under an applied direct current (DC) voltage. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114250 | Methods for Configuring Implantable Satellite Effectors - Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114251 | TACTILE FEEDBACK FOR INDICATING VALIDITY OF COMMUNICATION LINK WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Implantable medical device telemetry is provided between an implantable medical device and an external communication device. The implantable medical device includes a device transmitter and/or a device receiver. The external communication device includes a moveable communication head including an antenna therein connected to at least one of an external transmitter and/or an external receiver for communication with the device transmitter and/or the device receiver of the implantable medical device. A user moves the moveable head apparatus relative to the implantable medical device. Tactile feedback is provided to the user via the moveable head apparatus upon movement of the moveable head apparatus to a position where valid telemetry can be performed. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121413 | METHOD AND MEDICAL SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A LINK QUALITY OF A COMMUNICATION LINK IN SUCH A MEDICAL SYSTEM - In a method and medical system for determining a link quality and a link quality margin of a communication link between a programmer device and an implantable medical device of such a medical system, a link quality monitoring circuit of the programmer or the medical device a present link quality and/or link quality margin at reduced signal power using at least one link quality parameter. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121414 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING COMMUNICATIONS WITH IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - A method is presented for enabling radio-frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external device in a manner which reduces the power requirements of the implantable device by duty cycling its RF circuitry. A wakeup scheme for the implantable device is provided in which the external device transmits a data segment containing a repeating sequence of special wakeup characters and a device ID in order to establish a communications session with the implantable device. The wakeup scheme may be designed to operate using multiple communications channels. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125316 | Methods and Systems for Improving the Reliability of the Time Basis for Data Logged in an Implantable Medical Device - Disclosed are methods for synchronizing the time basis of logged data between an implantable medical device such as an IPG and an external device. The IPG logs various operational parameters as data and associates the same with a possibly-inaccurate IPG time stamp and a sequence number. Periodically, the external device sends accurate true time data to the IPG, which, like the operational parameter data, is logged with an IPG time stamp and a next sequence number. The IPG then orders the data sequences and timing sequences by time stamp in a combined data log, and divides that data log into regions in accordance with reset conditions apparent in the time stamp data. Slopes indicative of the relation between true time and time stamps are calculated for various regions on an intra-region or inter-region basis, which then allows for true time estimates to be calculated for the data sequences, thus providing an accurate time basis for the logged data. The true time estimates for the data sequences may then be transmitted from the IPG to an external device for interpretation. | 05-20-2010 |
20100131033 | ANTENNA SYSTEM WITH SAFETY MODE - The invention relates to an antenna system (AS) for an implantable device like a cardiac pacemaker or a cochlear implant. The antenna system comprises at least two DD coil units (L | 05-27-2010 |
20100137945 | AUTOMATED VERIFICATION OF MRI COMPATIBILITY OF ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system may include a processor configured to automatically obtain magnetic resonance imaging compatibility information relating to compatibility of an active implantable medical device implantable in a patient with an MRI modality from at least two information sources. The processor may also be configured to automatically determine compatibility of the active implantable medical device with the magnetic resonance imaging modality based on the magnetic resonance imaging compatibility information. | 06-03-2010 |
20100137946 | PATIENT-CENTRIC DATA COLLECTION FOR AUTOMATED MRI COMPATIBILITY VERIFICATION - A system may include a patient information terminal that receives magnetic resonance imaging compatibility information from a patient and a processor that automatically determines compatibility of an active implantable medical device with an magnetic resonance imaging modality based on the magnetic resonance imaging compatibility information. The magnetic resonance imaging compatibility information includes information relating to compatibility of the active implantable medical device implantable in the patient and the magnetic resonance imaging modality. | 06-03-2010 |
20100137947 | PATIENT PROGRAMMER WITH AUTOMATED MRI COMPATIBILITY VERIFICATION FOR ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system may include an active implantable medical device implantable in a body of a patient and a patient programmer for the AIMD. The patient programmer may be configured to obtain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatibility information relating to compatibility of the AIMD with an MRI modality. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145412 | System, devices, and methods including actively-controllable sterilizing excitation delivery implants - Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively-controllable disinfecting implantable device configured to, for example, treat or prevent an infection in a biological subject. | 06-10-2010 |
20100152815 | Remote Scheduling for Management of an Implantable Medical Device - A method and system for remotely programming a medical device that includes generating a remote monitoring schedule; establishing a communication link between a centralized programming instrument and an external medical device; and transferring the remote monitoring schedule to the external medical device via the communication link. The remote monitoring schedule is transmitted to an implantable medical device via an established telemetry link between the implantable medical device and the external medical device. | 06-17-2010 |
20100152816 | TELEMETRY DUTY CYCLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device comprising a far field RF transmitter and receiver, a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the RF transmitter and receiver, and a wakeup timer circuit integral to, or communicatively coupled to, the controller. The controller is configured to initiate power up of the RF transmitter and receiver during a wakeup interval defined by the wakeup timer circuit, detect a digital key received from a second device during the wakeup interval, transmit a response using the RF transmitter when the digital key is received, and receive a communication from the second device and resynchronize the wake-up timer according to a time of the communication. | 06-17-2010 |
20100161002 | Implantable Medical Device Having A Slot Antenna In Its Case - Disclosed is an improved medical implantable device having a conductive case into which a slot antenna is formed. The slot antenna preferably has a slot length which is one-half of the wavelength of the data being sent to or received from an external controller, although slot lengths smaller than these ideals values can also be used albeit with reduced efficiency. Slot lengths accommodatable by a given case can enable communications at frequencies suitable for medical telemetry. The slot is preferably filled with a hermetic dielectric material, and can be formed into different geometries, including non-linear geometries. When the slot antenna is provided in the implant's case, separate data antennas or coils are not needed, which reduces the implant's size. Additionally, the slot antenna reduces eddy current heating in the case, and promotes efficient data transfer in the near field that is not as susceptible to attenuation in the human body. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161003 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device has a programmer for generating a programming command representative of a diagnostic status of a subject or an operation status of the medical device. The device also comprises an interface for communicating the command to a programmable, implantable RFID tag. The tag memory is reprogrammed based on the received command. A portable RFID reader is used for interrogating the RFID tag and data in the tag memory can be displayed on the reader. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161004 | WIRELESS DYNAMIC POWER CONTROL OF AN IMPLANTABLE SENSING DEVICE AND METHODS THEREFOR - Communication systems and methods for dynamically controlling the power wirelessly delivered by a remote reader unit to separate sensing device, such as a device adapted to monitor a physiological parameter within a living body, including but not limited to intraocular pressure, intracranial pressure (ICP), and cardiovascular pressures that can be measured to assist in diagnosing and monitoring various diseases. The communication method entails electromagnetically delivering power from at least one telemetry antenna within the reader unit to at least one telemetry antenna within the sensing device, and controlling the power supplied to the sensing device within a predetermined operating power level range of the sensing device. | 06-24-2010 |
20100168817 | Phased Array Cofire Antenna Structure and Method for Forming the Same - An antenna structure for an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided that includes an antenna embedded within a structure derived from a plurality of discrete dielectric layers. An array of electrodes are connected to the antenna structure and arranged for applying a bias across selected segments of the dielectric layers for altering the performance characteristics of the antenna. The bias applied by the array of electrodes can be selected to provide desired impedance matching between the antenna and the surrounding environment of the implant location to mitigate energy reflection effects at the transition from the antenna structure to the surrounding environment, to provide beam steering functionality for the antenna, or to alter the gain of the signals received by the antenna. IMD is configured to monitor received signal characteristics (e.g., RSSI, EVM or bit error rate) and alter material properties of the dielectric material through biasing to control antenna performance. | 07-01-2010 |
20100168818 | External RF Telemetry Module for Implantable Medical Devices - An implantable medical device (“IMD”) is provided having an antenna and an RF telemetry module for far field telemetry communications arranged on an exterior of the IMD housing, such that telemetry signal processing may be performed on the exterior of the housing. One or more feedthrough conductive paths extend through the housing to communicatively couple the RF module to circuitry within the housing. In this manner RF module is arranged entirely external to the housing, such that only power and/or low frequency data bit signals are required to be passed through the feedthrough conductive path. This allows the feedthrough conductive path to be filtered to prevent undesired interference signals (e.g., electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals) from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the RF module. In some embodiments, the antenna and RF module are formed in an integrated assembly attachable to an exterior portion of the housing. | 07-01-2010 |
20100168819 | RF TELEMETRY LINK QUALITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system comprises an implantable medical device (IMD), a external user interface device, and a radio frequency link quality assessment (LQA) device. The external user interface device and the IMD are adapted to potentially use one or more of a plurality of available wireless communication channels to communicate. The LQA device is positioned to receive a radio frequency communication between the IMD and the external user interface device. At least one of the IMD, the external user interface device, and the LQA device is adapted to evaluate signal and noise strength of the available channels to determine respective signal and noise levels for each channel by using the noise level for the target channel and interference potential for corresponding adjacent channels to the target channel as inputs to a function to provide a value for a LQA for the target channel, and select a preferred communication channel based on the LQA value for each of the available wireless communication channels. | 07-01-2010 |
20100179618 | Signaling Error Conditions in an Implantable Medical Device System Using Simple Charging Coil Telemetry - The disclosed techniques allow for externalizing errors from an implantable medical device using the device's charging coil, for receipt at an external charger or other external device. Transmission of errors in this manner is particularly useful when telemetry of error codes through a traditional telemetry coil in the implant is not possible, for example, because the error experienced is so fundamental as to preclude use of such traditional means. By externalizing the error via the charging coil, and though the use of robust error modulation circuitry in the implant designed to be generally insensitive to fundamental errors, the external charger can be consulted to understand the failure mode involved, and to take appropriate action. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185262 | CO-LOCATION OF EMITTERS AND DETECTORS AND METHOD OF OPERATION - An implantable medical device having an optical sensor selects the function of modular opto-electronic assemblies included in the optical sensor. Each assembly is provided with at least one light emitting device and at least one light detecting device. A device controller coupled to the optical sensor controls the function of each the assemblies. The controller executes a sensor performance test and selects at least one of the plurality of assemblies to operate as a light emitting assembly in response to a result of the performance test. The controller selects at least one other of the plurality of optical sensor assemblies to operate as a light detecting assembly in response to a result of the performance test | 07-22-2010 |
20100185263 | RF ACTIVATED AIMD TELEMETRY TRANSCEIVER - A telemetry wake-up circuit is electrically disposed between a telemetry transceiver associated with an AIMD, and an RF tag. The RF tag may be remotely interrogated to generate a signal to which the telemetry wake-up circuit is responsive to switch the telemetry transceiver from a sleep mode to an active telemetry mode. In the sleep mode, the telemetry transceiver draws less than 25,000 nanoamperes from the AIMD, and preferably less than 500 nanoamperes. | 07-22-2010 |
20100191310 | Communication-Anchor Loop For Injectable Device - An injectable electronics device has a housing sized to fit within an injection tool lumen with one or more electrical components position within the housing, and a self-expanding loop antenna coupled to at least one electrical component within the housing. The self-expanding loop antenna is expandable from a first compressed shape to a second expanded shape. | 07-29-2010 |
20100198304 | ADAPTATION OF MODULATION PARAMETERS FOR COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND AN EXTERNAL INSTRUMENT - External instruments and implantable medical devices communicate using modulation parameter settings that may be adapted during communication sessions based on a quality of the wireless communications link. An analysis of the quality of the link is performed and a request to change modulation parameters is sent to one of the devices by the other. The analysis may be based on measuring noise and interference during idle communication frames. The devices may then change the modulation parameter settings, for the uplink, downlink, or both. The devices may also employ a recovery operation to revert back to the previous modulation parameter settings if the transmissions are not properly received using the changed modulation parameter settings. The modulation parameter settings may include modulation type, modulation symbol rate, and the like. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198305 | DETECTION OF IMPLANT FUNCTIONALITY - Techniques are disclosed for detecting a functionality of a medical device implanted within the human body. A testing method includes delivering power to and measuring an electrical response of ion exchange polymer metal composite (IPMC) material that is part of the implant device in a first testing interval. Power can be transmitted at radio frequencies which penetrate tissue such that direct contact with the implant device is not required. Following the first testing interval, the implant can be powered continuously for a predetermined time. The implant can be powered in a second testing interval and the electrical response can again be measured. A functionality of the implant device can be detected based on the electrical response in the first and second testing intervals. The testing method can be practiced in connection with a handheld device, a retainer, or other suitable apparatus. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198306 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA - An implantable neurostimulator for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprises an implant configured to at least partially surround a Hypoglossal nerve (HGN) and a plurality of electrodes each attached to the implant. Each electrode configured to contact the HGN and electrically stimulate one or more regions or groups of the HGN. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198307 | MEDICAL DEVICE PROGRAMMER - In general, the disclosure is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience. The patient programmer includes an internal antenna mounted on a first circuit board and a display mounted on a second circuit board. The first circuit board includes a substantially contiguous ground plane layer that is interrupted by two or more gaps. The patient programmer may also include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience. | 08-05-2010 |
20100204756 | External Device for Communicating with an Implantable Medical Device Having Data Telemetry and Charging Integrated in a Single Housing - An improved embodiment of an external device for an implantable medical device system is described herein, where the external device has both circuitry for charging the implantable medical device and circuitry for telemetering data to and from the medical implant contained within a single housing. The external device in one embodiment includes orthogonal radiators in which both the radiators are used for data transfer, and in which at least one of the radiators is used for power transfer. Having charging and data telemetry circuitry fully integrated within a single external device conveniences both patient and clinician. | 08-12-2010 |
20100204757 | SYNCHRONIZATION METHODS AND DEVICES IN TELEMETRY SYSTEM - In a medical telemetry system for synchronizing an implantable medical device to a base station of the telemetry system, a communication channel is selected for communication between the implantable medical device and the base station, and the implantable medical device is synchronized to the base station by selecting a synchronizing word associated with the selected channel, wherein at least two different communication channels within the medical telemetry system are associated with different synchronization words. By this procedure, crosstalk is eliminated. | 08-12-2010 |
20100204758 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTRA-BODY ULTRASOUND COMMUNICATION - An intra-body ultrasonic signal can be converted into a first electrical signal, a local oscillator signal can be generated in an implantable system. The first electrical signal and the local oscillator signal can be mixed in an implantable system, such as to generate a demodulated signal, processed, such as using a filter. The filtered, demodulated signal can be further processed, such as implantably determining a peak amplitude of the first portion of the demodulated signal received from the filter over a time interval, implantably generating a dynamic tracking threshold that starts at an amplitude proportional the first portion of the demodulated signal and exponentially decays over a time interval, and determining a noise floor in the absence of a received intra-body ultrasonic signal and implantably comparing the peak amplitude and the tracking threshold and generate the digital output based on the difference. | 08-12-2010 |
20100204759 | SYSTEMS FOR ENABLING TELEMETRY IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system for enabling telemetry in implantable medical devices is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an implantable medical device having radio-frequency telemetry capabilities. The device includes a housing and electronic circuitry contained within the housing. The device also includes an antenna connected to the electronic circuitry, the antenna having a helical portion and a whip portion, the whip portion separate from a feed conductor and adapted to enhance a radiation pattern of the antenna. According to various embodiments, the antenna and circuitry are adapted to facilitate transmission and reception of modulated radio-frequency energy at a specified carrier frequency. At least a portion of the antenna is embedded in a dielectric compartment, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211132 | Selectable Boost Converter and Charge Pump for Compliance Voltage Generation in an Implantable Stimulator Device - Improved compliance voltage generation circuitry for a medical device is disclosed. The improved circuitry in one embodiment comprises a boost converter and a charge pump, either of which is capable of generating an appropriate compliance voltage from the voltage of the battery in the device. A telemetry enable signal indicating whether the implant's transmitter, receiver, or both, have been enabled is received. A “boost” signal from compliance voltage monitor-and-adjust logic circuitry is processed with the telemetry enable signal and its inverse to selectively enable either the charge pump or the boost converter: if the telemetry enable signal is not active, the boost converter is used to generate the compliance voltage; if the telemetry enable signal is active, the charge pump is used. Because the charge pump circuitry does not produce a magnetic field, the charge pump will not interfere with magnetically-coupled telemetry between the implant and an external controller. By contrast, the boost converter is allowed to operate during periods of no telemetry, when magnetic interference is not a concern, while obtaining the advantage of higher power efficiency. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211133 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING ENERGY TO A MEDICAL DEVICE - For supplying energy to a medical implant ( | 08-19-2010 |
20100217350 | Wireless Electrical Stimulating Device for Living Body - A wireless electrical stimulating device for living body comprises a light source unit for irradiating an optical signal; a light source control unit for controlling the optical signal irradiated from the light source unit; and an electrical stimulating unit for converting the optical signal received from the light source unit into an electrical signal to generate electrical stimulation. In the wireless electrical stimulating device for living body, the electrical stimulating unit comprises a battery for supplying current; an optical switch for detecting the optical signal irradiated from the light source unit to switch current supplied from the battery; and a stimulating electrode for providing the current switched by the optical switch to a living body. | 08-26-2010 |
20100222847 | TRANSMISSION OF POWER SOURCE USAGE INFORMATION OVER A NETWORK - The disclosure is directed to transmitting power source usage information regarding a power source of an implantable medical device (IMD) to a remote networking device via a network. The IMD operates on power supplied by a power source, such as a battery, within the housing of the IMD. The use of the power source may be monitored remotely in order to maintain therapy. Power source usage information may include power source recharge patterns such as frequency of recharging events, length of recharging events, period between recharging events, discharge state of the power source, and degree of coupling between primary and secondary coils during recharging. The IMD, or an external device used with the IMD, may generate, store, and transmit the power source usage information to the remote networking device. Action requests may be transmitted from the remote networking device via the network based upon the power source usage information. | 09-02-2010 |
20100228323 | REMOTE CONTROL FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system and method for modifying the parameters of an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device that communicates with a remote control device that, in turn, communicates through the browser of a computer or any other device capable of using mark-up language protocol. The computer optionally communicates with other computers and/or devices through a network. | 09-09-2010 |
20100249881 | Channel Assessment And Selection For Wireless Communication Between Medical Devices - This disclosure relates to channel assessment and selection for wireless communication between two or more medical devices, such as between an implantable medical device (IMD) and a non-implanted medical device, between two IMDs, or between two non-implanted medical devices. A telemetry module of a medical device operating in accordance with the techniques of this disclosure obtains measured ambient power levels on a plurality of channels of a frequency band regulation, such as the ten channels of the MICS band regulation. The telemetry module computes channel assessment values for at least a portion of the plurality of channels based on the measured ambient power levels on at least one other channel of the plurality of channels and selects a channel to transmit on based on the channel assessment values. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249882 | Acoustic Telemetry System for Communication with an Implantable Medical Device - A telemetry module of an IMD operating in accordance with the techniques of this disclosure receives an unmodulated acoustic carrier signal from another device and modulates a reflected portion of the acoustic carrier signal with data for transmission to the other device. In one instance, the telemetry module may modulate the reflected portion of the carrier signal with data by selectively adjusting a reflectance of the transducer of the IMD. For example, the IMD may set the reflectance to be high or low depending on the information, e.g., digital | 09-30-2010 |
20100249883 | Methods for Configuring Satellite Electrodes - Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249884 | Medical Device and Method for Operating the Same - In the case of a medical device with several electronic components, a possibility must be provided for enabling the components to be rapidly matched to each other, in order to guarantee the functional correctness of the medical device. In particular in the case when, for example, an item of operating software is modified for one individual component only, it can occur that this component no longer interoperates with the other components in a desired way. In this context, at a particular point in time, for each of the electronic components of a apparatus data for the component is copied and the copied data is stored outside the storage facility of the component, making it possible at a later point in time, which can be defined, for the copied data for each component to be stored in its storage facility. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249885 | IMPLANTABLE MICROSTIMULATOR WITH PLASTIC HOUSING AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE - An implantable microstimulator includes a plastic housing having a first end and a second end; an electronic subassembly disposed within the housing; a first electrode disposed at the first end of the plastic housing and in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly; and a second electrode disposed at the second end of the plastic housing and in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly. The plastic housing, first electrode, and second electrode form a hermetically sealed structure around the electronic subassembly. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249886 | Systems and Methods for Communicating with an Implantable Stimulator - An exemplary system for communicating with an implantable stimulator includes a coil configured to transmit a signal modulated with either on-off keying (OOK) modulation or Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) modulation. The system further includes a first telemetry receiver in the implantable stimulator configured to receive the signal in accordance with the OOK modulation and a second telemetry receiver in the implantable stimulator configured to receive the signal in accordance with the FSK modulation. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249887 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL DEVICES - A communications device facilitates communication between a medical device and a wireless communications network and comprises a telemetry circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices, and a computer network communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network. The communications device also comprises a peripheral device communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device and a processor being in operable communication with, and configured to control operations of, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface. | 09-30-2010 |
20100268303 | ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATION SESSION BETWEEN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND AN EXTERNAL DEVICE USING A BURST PERIOD AND A SNIFF INTERVAL - Communication sessions between an external device and an implantable medical device are established by the initiating device periodically transmitted bursts of energy and with the device that is the target of the bursts periodically sniffing for the transmitted bursts of energy. A silent period between bursts may be established and the sniff interval is chosen to avoid repetitively sniffing during the silent period. The length of the bursts may be chosen to reduce the delay in establishing the communications and/or to reduce the power consumption. The implantable medical device may use multiple modes of operation where in some modes the implantable medical device sniffs and in another mode the implantable medical device transmits bursts. The sniff interval for the implantable medical device may vary depending upon the mode. The burst length may vary depending upon whether the external device or the implantable device is transmitting the bursts. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268304 | CONTROLLING A PERSONAL MEDICAL DEVICE - Medical monitoring and treatment apparatus, which is controlled by a plurality of control sources, includes a “personal medical device” (PMD) or an “implantable medical device” (IMD), respectively carried by, or implanted in, a patient. The PMD/IMD is alternatively self-controlled or controlled by one or more local external control stations, at or near the location of the patient, and/or one or more remote external control stations, remote from the patient. Either or both of the local and remote stations may be operated by a person, such as the patient, a patient facilitator and/or a medical professional, or the stations may operate automatically. Since the device is controlled by multiple sources, hierarchies are used to select the source of control. | 10-21-2010 |
20100274322 | TRACKING OF COMMUNICATION SESSIONS WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Communication sessions between external devices and implantable medical devices are tracked using a session value that is incremented for each new session and that is stored within the implantable medical device. Session logs that are created for each session may include the session value that is obtained for that session. The session value allows available session logs to be considered in the proper sequence and allows for an awareness of missing session logs. The incrementing of the session value may occur at the external device according to one convention, or at the implantable medical device according to another. The session value to be used for a given session may be the value accessed from the implantable medical device according to one convention or may be the session value that results from incrementing the session value that is accessed from the implantable medical device according to another. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274323 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR POWER MANAGEMENT - Telemetry data from an IMD are routinely extracted in order to perform a full prognosis of a patient's condition and to alter the IMD therapy programming if necessary. Typically, while the IMD is inside of the patient, it periodically or continuously collects and stores data into its memory. These stored data can then be extracted by a physician to an external device for further analysis. In addition to the stored telemetry data, the physician may also want to collect real-time telemetry data such as real-time IEGM data or other physiological data while the patient is in the physician's office. However, transmitting telemetry data can consume a high level of power and shorten the battery life of the IMD if not properly managed. Thus, it is advantageous to have built-in features to minimize the possibility the IMD is not transmitting and/or receiving data while it is not being monitored and/or used by the physician for a predetermined amount of time. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274324 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLINICIAN CONTROL OF STIMULATION SYSTEM - Systems and methods for programming and logging medical device and patient data are provided. The systems include a handheld device, which is capable of communicating with a medical device, and a base station, which provides connectivity for the handheld device to accomplish various functions such as recharging, programming, data back-up and data entry. The methods comprise the steps of detecting a medical device, obtaining and recording information from the medical device. Additionally, medical device parameters may be modified and the recorded information may be archived for future reference. | 10-28-2010 |
20100292761 | AUTOMATED DEVICE PROGRAMMING AT CHANGEOUT - This document discusses, among other things, methods and systems for facilitating automated device programming at changeout. A method comprises receiving, from a first device, physiological data at a temporary storage device; and processing the received physiological data, wherein the processing includes determining if a first signal processing function was used by the first device and substantially offsetting the first signal processing function if the first signal processing function was used by the first device; and processing the resultant physiological data to be compatible with a second device. The method further comprising providing the processed resultant physiological data to the second device. | 11-18-2010 |
20100298909 | WIRELESS FEEDTHROUGH FOR MEDICAL IMPLANTS - An implantable arrangement including an implantable electromedical device having an exterior wall and an implantable sensor and/or actuator outside of the exterior wall. The sensor and/or actuator are in signal connection with the implantable device via an electric stage and a mechanical stage arranged in series, wherein the mechanical stage sends and/or receives mechanical vibration signals through the closed exterior wall, and the electrical stage sends and/or receives the same signals in electrical form. | 11-25-2010 |
20100298910 | Chair Pad Charging and Communication System for a Battery-Powered Microstimulator - A system and method are provided for both recharging and communicating with a stimulator having a rechargeable battery, which stimulator is implanted deeply in the body, in particular where the stimulator is a microstimulator, the system includes a base station and an external device, for instance a chair pad. The chair pad may contain an antenna/charging coil and a booster coil. The antenna/charging coil can be used for charging the rechargeable battery and also for communicating with the stimulator using frequency shift keying and on-off keying. The booster coil can be used to recharge a battery depleted to zero volts. The base station connected to the chair pad may be used to power the antenna/charging coil and the booster coil. | 11-25-2010 |
20100305660 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING AN IMPLANTABLE SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a method for facilitating programming of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) by an external programming device, the method comprises: receiving input from a user by the external programming device to calibrate electrode combinations at a plurality of locations along one or more stimulation leads implanted within the epidural space of a patient; controlling the IPG by the external programmer to apply stimulation to the patient via the electrode combinations; receiving input from a user by the external programming device that indicates values of a respective perception stimulation threshold at each location of the plurality of locations; receiving input from a user by the external programming device that indicates values of a respective bilateral stimulation threshold at each location of the plurality of locations; calculating positions by the external programming device of each of the plurality of locations using the perception stimulation thresholds and the bilateral stimulation thresholds; and displaying calculated positions of the plurality of locations relative to a physiological midline of the patient by the external programming device. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305661 | MEDICAL DEVICE ANTENNA SYSTEMS HAVING EXTERNAL ANTENNA CONFIGURATIONS - A medical device includes an antenna external to a case, package, or encapsulant for the electronic systems of the medical device. In one embodiment, a diabetes infusion pump is enclosed within a metal case, the pump including a processor and a communication module for wireless communications. An antenna is disposed in the delivery tubing of the pump outside the case with an antenna feed interconnecting the external antenna with the internal communication module. In another aspect, a thin film antenna is formed on the outer surface of the case in which a physiological parameter sensor, such as a glucose sensor, is enclosed. Multiple antennas may be used for communications on different frequencies. | 12-02-2010 |
20100312309 | RADIO FREQUENCY TRANSPONDER BASED IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL SYSTEM - An implantable medical device (IMD) system includes an IMD, a transceiver antenna lead for the IMD, and a wireless therapy delivery transponder or probe that is remotely activated by the IMD via the transceiver antenna lead. The IMD and the wireless probe communicate using wireless RF-based transponder techniques. The wireless probe includes a capacitor that is charged when the IMD emits an appropriate electromagnetic field from the transceiver antenna lead. The wireless probe delivers electrical therapy in the form of electrical pulses from the capacitor in response to RF activation signals emitted by the IMD via the transceiver antenna lead. | 12-09-2010 |
20100331914 | ACOUSTIC ACTIVATION OF COMPONENTS OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A power source of an implantable medical device (IMD) is connected to one or more components that perform various functions of the IMD via an acoustic switching circuit. The acoustic switching circuit may include one or more switches that when open disconnect the one or more components from the power source and when closed connect the one or more components to the power source to activate the one or more components. Various techniques for connecting the components to the power source are described. These techniques aim to reduce the likelihood of inadvertently connecting the power source to the one or more components in response to acoustical signals from a source of interference. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331915 | ACOUSTIC ACTIVATION OF COMPONENTS OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A power source of an implantable medical device (IMD) is connected to one or more components that perform various functions of the IMD via an acoustic switching circuit. The acoustic switching circuit may include one or more switches that when open disconnect the one or more components from the power source and when closed connect the one or more components to the power source to activate the one or more components. Various techniques for connecting the components to the power source are described. These techniques aim to reduce the likelihood of inadvertently connecting the power source to the one or more components in response to acoustical signals from a source of interference. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331916 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACQUIRING PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA DURING TISSUE STIMULATION PROCEDURE - A method and system of providing therapy to a patient implanted with an array of electrodes is provided. A train of electrical stimulation pulses is conveyed within a stimulation timing channel between a group of the electrodes to stimulate neural tissue, thereby providing continuous therapy to the patient. Electrical parameter is sensed within a sensing timing channel using at least one of the electrodes, wherein the first stimulation timing channel and sensing timing channel are coordinated, such that the electrical parameter is sensed during the conveyance of the pulse train within time slots that do not temporally overlap any active phase of the stimulation pulses. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004275 | External Device for an Implantable Medical System Having Accessible Contraindication Information - Disclosed is a remote controller for an implantable medical device having stored contraindication information, which includes information which a patient or clinician might wish to review when assessing the compatibility of a given therapeutic or diagnostic technique or activity with the patient's implant. The stored contraindication information is available through a display of the remote controller or via a wired, wireless, or portable drive connection with an external device. By storing contraindication information with the implant's remote controller, patient and clinician can more easily determine the safety of a particular therapeutic or diagnostic technique or physical activity with the patient's implant, perhaps without the need to contact the manufacturer's service representative. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004276 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT TRANSPONDER TAGGED OBJECTS AND TO COMMUNICATE WITH MEDICAL TELEMETRY DEVICES, FOR EXAMPLE DURING MEDICAL PROCEDURES - The presence or absence of objects tagged with transponders may be determined in an environment in which medical procedures are performed via an interrogation and detection system which includes a controller and a plurality of antennas positioned along a patient support structure. The antennas may be positioned along an operating table, bed, mattress or pad, sheet, or may be positioned on a drape, or shade. Respective antennas may successively be activated to transmit interrogation signals. Multiple antennas may be monitored for responses from transponders to the interrogation signals. For example, all antennas other than the antenna that transmitted the most recent interrogation signal may be monitored. Antennas may be responsive to force, a signal indicative of such force being produced. A wireless physiological condition monitor may detect patient physiological conditions and wirelessly transmit signals indicative of such. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004277 | System and Method for Managing Locally-Initiated Medical Device Interrogation - A system and method for managing locally-initiated medical device interrogation is presented. An interface is provided over which to retrieve patient data recorded and transiently staged by a medical device monitoring physiological measures of a patient. The patient data is periodically retrieved by interfacing to and interrogating the medical device per a pre-defined schedule through the interface. Further retrieval of the patient data is permitted independent of the pre-defined schedule. The system stores remotely-specifiable criteria specified by a caregiver and controls patient-initiated patient data retrieval in accordance with the criteria. | 01-06-2011 |
20110009925 | TRANSCUTANEOUS RECEIVING ANTENNA DEVICE FOR IMPLANT - An implantable antenna ( | 01-13-2011 |
20110009926 | Nerve-Stimulating And Signal-Monitoring Device And Method Of Manufacturing The Same And Nerve-Stimulating And Signal-Monitoring System - A nerve-stimulating and signal-monitoring device includes a flexible substrate, a modulation/demodulation module, a SOC unit and a plurality of stimulation probes. The modulation/demodulation module demodulates coded nerve-stimulating radio-frequency signals or modulates sending coded epidermal nerve response signals. The SOC unit and the modulation/demodulation module can be integrally packaged and bonded on the flexible substrate. The SOC unit decodes and transforms the coded nerve-stimulating radio-frequency signals to obtain nerve-stimulating electrical probe-driving signals. The stimulation probes protrude from the flexible substrate, are configured to transmit the nerve-stimulating electrical probe-driving signals to epidermal nerves, and are electrically coupled to the SOC unit. The SOC unit can receive, amplify, analyze, classify and encode epidermal nerve response signals sent to the modulation/demodulation module for modulating, and such coded epidermal nerve response signals are subsequently transmitted by an antenna to the monitor station for decoding, monitoring and analysis. | 01-13-2011 |
20110015701 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING CONTEXT AMONG EVENTS AND OPTIMIZING IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICE PERFORMANCE - An apparatus and method for adjusting the performance of an implanted device based on data including contextual information. Contextual information, including operational and performance data concerning the implanted device as well as the patient with the implanted device, is stored by a portable electronic device. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device is adapted for battery operation and includes a personal digital assistant (PDA). The portable electronic device is adapted for use as an interface to conduct wireless communications with the implanted device. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device interfaces with a clinical programmer for use by a physician. | 01-20-2011 |
20110022123 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH INDUCTIVE ANTENNA FILTER - This disclosure describes techniques for reducing, and possibly eliminating, adverse effects caused by signals induced on an inductive antenna of an implanted medical device by varying magnetic fields from a source of interference, such as the gradient magnetic fields applied during an MRI procedure. For example, the implantable medical device includes an inductive antenna that receives signals via inductive coupling, a filter circuit that attenuates signals induced on the inductive antenna by varying magnetic fields generated from a source of interference and substantially passes signals induced on the inductive antenna by varying magnetic fields generated by an expected source and a telemetry module that processes the signals from the filter circuit. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029043 | RFID-ENABLED AIMD PROGRAMMER SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING MRI COMPATIBILITY OF IMPLANTED LEADS - An RFID tag is associated with an implantable lead, its sensing or therapy delivery electrode, or a patient, for identifying the MRI compatibility of the implantable lead and/or the presence of a bandstop filter and its attendant characteristics. An RFID-enabled AIMD external telemetry programmer transmits an electromagnetic signal to establish a communication link with the RFID tag. | 02-03-2011 |
20110040354 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOVERY FROM MEMORY ERRORS IN A MEDICAL DEVICE - A system comprising an implantable medical device that comprises a memory circuit, a radiation detector circuit configured to detect a condition correlative to a high-energy radiation level that exceeds a background radiation level, and a controller circuit. The control circuit checks memory locations for errors using a first rate of error checking per time period during a normal operation mode and, in response to the radiation detector circuit indicating a high-energy radiation level, initiates a memory scrubbing mode, wherein the memory scrubbing mode has an increased rate of error checking substantially all memory locations per time period in the memory circuit to check for any errors and correct any such errors. | 02-17-2011 |
20110046698 | RECOVERY OF A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SESSION WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques are described for recovery of an inadvertently lost communication session between an implantable medical device (IMD) and another device. For example, the IMD or other device may detect loss of the established communication session, attempt to reestablish the communication session on a same channel as the established communication session that was lost, and attempt to reestablish the communication session on an unspecified channel using a telemetry wakeup feature upon the failure to reestablish the communication session on the same channel. | 02-24-2011 |
20110054570 | METHODS TO AVOID FREQUENCY LOCKING IN A MULTI-CHANNEL NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM USING A GREATEST COMMON DIVISOR RULE - A method and external control device for preventing frequency locking in a multi-channel neurostimulation system and external control device is provided. A plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms is provided. Each of the pulsed electrical waveforms has a period and a pulse width. The greatest common divisor of the periods of the pulsed electrical waveforms is computed, and the sum of the pulse widths of the pulsed electrical waveforms is computed. A plurality of timing channels in the neurostimulation system is allowed to be programmed with the pulsed electrical waveforms if the greatest common divisor is equal to or greater than the sum. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054571 | PRECOMPENSATING FOR UNDESIRED ELECTRICAL RESPONSES OF RECEIVER COMPONENTS OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - This disclosure describes to techniques to compensate for distortions introduced into received signals by one or more receiver components that have undesirable electrical responses, such as nonlinear phase response, sloped (or non-flat) amplitude response or both. An external device or other device with more power resources than an IMD filters signals to be transmitted to the IMD to pre-compensate for distortions introduced by the undesired electrical responses of the one or more receiver components of the IMD. In this manner, at least a portion of the burden of digital processing to compensate for undesired electrical responses of the receiver components is shifted from the IMD to the external device, which is better equipped to perform such heavy computationally complex functions. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060386 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING STIMULATION FIELD GENERATED BY ELECTRODE ARRAY - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066211 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH TWO OR MORE TELEMETRY SYSTEMS - An implantable medical device comprises a near field telemetry module to wirelessly receive first information into the IMD, a far field telemetry module to wirelessly receive second information into the IMD, and a processor in electrical communication with the near field telemetry module and the far field telemetry module. The processor is configured to establish, in relation to a communication signal received by the near field telemetry module, a time period during which communication via the far field telemetry module is available, and operate the IMD according to the received second information upon receiving third information via the near field telemetry link. | 03-17-2011 |
20110077713 | BIO-MEDICAL UNIT NETWORK COMMUNICATION AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - A bio-medical unit network includes a plurality of bio-medical units, where at least some of the bio-medical units are for implanting within a body. At least one of the bio-medical units coordinates, on behalf of the plurality of bio-medical units, a communication convention with a communication device external to the body. A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, and a functional module. The power harvesting module is operable to generate a supply voltage from a wireless power source. The communication module is powered via the supply voltage and is operable to communicate data and/or control information. The functional module is powered by the supply voltage and is operable to perform a bio-medical function. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077714 | BIO-MEDICAL UNIT WITH POWER HARVESTING MODULE AND RF COMMUNICATION - A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module and an RF communication module. The power harvesting module generates a power supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal. The RF communication module interprets a predetermined pattern of the transmitting of the electromagnetic signal to determine null intervals; receives a downstream RF communication signal during at least one of the null intervals; converts the downstream RF communication signal into downstream information; converts upstream information into an upstream RF communication signal; and/or transmits the upstream RF communication signal during one or more of the null intervals. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077715 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A BIO-MEDICAL UNIT - A bio-medical communication system includes a bio-medical unit and a communication device. The bio-medical unit is implantable in and/or affixable to a host body and includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, and a functional module. The communication device is operable to: set-up a communication with the bio-medical unit; wirelessly communicate the at least one of upstream data signal and downstream data signal with the bio-medical unit; convert the upstream data signal into an upstream wide area network (WAN) signal and/or a downstream WAN signal into the downstream data signal; and transmit or receive at least one of the upstream and downstream WAN signals. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077716 | Bio-Medical Unit with Adjustable Antenna Radiation Pattern - A bio-medical unit for implanting into a host body includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, an antenna assembly, and a processing module. The power harvesting module is operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic signal. The antenna assembly has an adjustable radiation pattern. The processing module is powered by the supply voltage and is operable to receive, via the communication module, a command regarding a bio-medical function. When the bio-medical function includes a radio frequency transmission, the processing module determines a desired radiation pattern for the antenna assembly. The processing module then determines an operating frequency based on the desired radiation pattern, wherein, for the radio frequency transmission, the antenna assembly has the desired radiation pattern. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077717 | STEERING STIMULATION CURRENT BY EMPLOYING STEERING CURRENT - Stimulation current is steered further outward and/or inward from a plane of the stimulating electrodes by using one or more steering currents. The steering current may be used to occupy space in the tissue where stimulation is not desired and to force the stimulation current to pass through target tissue. The steering current may be present in various locations such as in tissue that is immediately adjacent the plane of the electrodes to force the stimulation current away from the immediately adjacent area and deeper into surrounding target tissue. The steering current may be present in tissue that is beyond the target tissue to confine the outward reach of the stimulation current to that target tissue. The stimulation current may be produced by one power source while the steering current may be produced by one or more other power sources, each of the power sources being unreferenced to each other. | 03-31-2011 |
20110082523 | MULTI-BAND ANTENNA FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for wirelessly sending information electromagnetically at one of a first or a second specified operating frequency from within a biological medium, or receiving information electromagnetically at one of the first or second specified operating frequencies in the biological medium, using an implantable antenna including a switchback portion having multiple segments. The first specified operating frequency and the second specified operating frequency can be provided using the multiple segments. | 04-07-2011 |
20110087306 | IMPLANT WITH ANTENNA ARRAY - An example implant device described herein may be adapted to communicate with other devices via an antenna array. The antenna array may be configured to minimize radiation to surrounding tissue and/or maximize signal power in a direction of device(s) with which the implant device communicates. | 04-14-2011 |
20110093046 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH SELECTIVELY CONFIGURABLE EXPOSURE OPERATING MODE PROGRAMMING OPTIONS - An IMD is selectively configurable to support a plurality of programming options for enabling and disabling an exposure operating mode of the device. In one example, the IMD may support at least two of a manual exposure mode programming option in which the exposure operating mode is manually enabled and manually disabled, an automatic exposure mode programming option in which the exposure operating mode is automatically enabled and automatically disabled, or a semi-automatic exposure mode programming option in which the exposure operating mode is either automatically enabled and manually disabled or manually enabled and automatically disabled. In this manner, the IMD may support more than one way for enabling and disabling the exposure operating mode to provide flexibility in the clinical workflows associated with programming the IMD into an exposure operating mode for a medical procedure, such as an MRI scan. | 04-21-2011 |
20110093047 | STORING IMAGE OF THERAPY REGION IN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - This disclosure describes techniques for obtaining an image of an anatomical implant region where leads associated with an implantable medical device are implanted in a patient, manipulating the image to show lead locations and placements, performing necessary image compression and manipulations, adjusting the image to associate it with information (e.g., patient, metadata, annotations, etc.) useful to a subsequent programmer retrieving the image, and transferring a copy of the captured image to the implantable medical device. The image stored in the implantable medical device may be retrieved at a later time by a user of programmer, where the user can use the image and other associated information to program subsequent therapy. | 04-21-2011 |
20110098788 | SECURE REMOTE ACCESS FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - This document discloses, among other things, a telemetry system that controls access to assets of an implantable device as a function of the manner of initiating the communication session or an access code. A tiered hierarchy of assets are associated with corresponding levels of access. A tiered array of security mechanisms are associated with the hierarchy of assets. | 04-28-2011 |
20110106214 | CHARGE RECOVERY BI-PHASIC CONTROL FOR TISSUE STIMULATION - A method and external control device for providing therapy to a patient using first and second electrodes implanted within the patient is provided. A train of electrical multi-phasic pulses is generated. A first electrical current is sourced from the second electrode and at least a portion of the first electrical current is sunk to the first electrode during a stimulation phase of each multi-phasic pulse, thereby therapeutically stimulating a first tissue region adjacent the first electrode. A second electrical current is sourced from the first electrode and at least a portion of the second electrical current is sunk to the second electrode during a charge recovery phase of each multi-phasic pulse, thereby recovering at least a portion of the charge that had been injected into the patient during the stimulation phase of each multi-phasic pulse, and therapeutically stimulating a second tissue region adjacent the second electrode. | 05-05-2011 |
20110106215 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAPPING ARBITRARY ELECTRIC FIELDS TO PRE-EXISTING LEAD ELECTRODES - A method and system for stimulating tissue using a plurality of electrodes is provided. Desired electrical parameter (e.g., field potential) values are determined at a plurality of spatial points. A plurality of constituent current sources is selected at the locations of the electrodes. The relative strengths of the constituent current sources that, when combined, result in estimated electrical parameter (e.g., field potential)|values at the spatial points that best matches the desired electrical parameter values at the spatial points are determined. The polarity and percentage of electrical current to be associated with each of the electrodes is selected based on the determined strengths of the constituent current sources. Electrical current is conveyed through the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the selected electrical current magnitudes to stimulate the tissue. | 05-05-2011 |
20110112610 | Minimizing Interference Between Charging and Telemetry Coils in an Implantable Medical Device - An improved implantable pulse generator (IPG) containing improved telemetry circuitry is disclosed. The IPG includes charging and telemetry coils within the IPG case, which increases their mutual inductance and potential to interfere with each other; particularly problematic is interference to the telemetry coil caused by the charging coil. To combat this, improved telemetry circuitry includes decoupling circuitry for decoupling the charging coil during periods of telemetry between the IPG and an external controller. Such decoupling circuitry can comprise use of pre-existing LSK circuitry during telemetry, or new discrete circuitry dedicated to decoupling. The decoupling circuitry is designed to prevent or at least reduce induced current flowing through the charging coil during data telemetry. The decoupling circuitry can be controlled by the microcontroller in the IPG, or can automatically decouple the charging coil at appropriate times to mitigate an induced current without instruction from the microcontroller. | 05-12-2011 |
20110112611 | External Controller/Charger System for an Implantable Medical Device Capable of Automatically Providing Data Telemetry Through a Charging Coil During a Charging Session - An improved external controller/charger system for an implantable medical device is described herein, in which the external controller/charger system provides automatic switching between telemetry and charging without any manual intervention by the patient. The external controller/charger system includes an external controller which houses a telemetry coil and an external charging coil coupled to the external controller. Normally, a charging session is carried out using the external charging coil, and a telemetry session is carried out using the telemetry coil. However, when a patient requests to carry out telemetry during a charging session, the external charging coil is used instead of the internal telemetry coil. Specifically, in one embodiment, the external controller/charger system automatically decouples the external charging coil from the charging circuitry and couples it to the telemetry circuitry. The device and the implantable medical device then carry out the desired telemetry via the external charging coil. After a predetermined time, or after the telemetry session is complete, the external controller/charger system automatically decouples the external coil from the telemetry circuitry and recouples it to the charging circuitry. | 05-12-2011 |
20110112612 | Using the Case of an Implantable Medical Device to Broaden Communication Bandwidth - An improved implantable pulse generator (IPG) containing improved telemetry circuitry is disclosed. The IPG includes a telemetry coil within the conductive IPG case, not in the non-conductive header as is typical, which simplifies IPG design. The improved resonant circuit of which the coil is a part does not include a discrete tuning resistor with the coil, which tuning resistor was traditionally used to increase communication bandwidth of the coil to render it suitable for FSK telemetry. In lieu of the tuning resistor, the coil is intentionally inductively coupled to the case by positioning the coil a certain distance away from the case. Such coupling decreases the effective inductance and increases the effective series resistance in the improved resonant circuit, both of which increase the communication bandwidth. As such, suitable FSK telemetry can be achieved, even though the improved resonant circuit without the case would not on its own have suitable bandwidth. | 05-12-2011 |
20110118809 | APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROLLED PRESCRIPTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION TREATMENTS IN HUMANS - The invention proposes a system and a method for controlling the process of prescription and administration of direct current stimulation treatments in humans. In the proposed system, the stimulation parameters are all set by a specialist whose credentials are verified through a specific control device different from the device that delivers electrical stimulation. The stimulating device can deliver the stimulation only if the credentials of the specialized subject making the prescription are verified and if the prescription is made according to safety criteria. The system is composed by at least one device for the administration of electrical current connected to two electrodes applied over the skin and by a control device. The control device is connected to one or more devices for the administration of the direct current through a communication channel. The specialist gives his own credentials and is authorized at making the prescription and, accordingly, programming the stimulating device. The prescription defines the stimulus intensity, waveform, polarity, duration, the minimum interval between two consecutive stimulations and the maximum number of stimulations allowed. The stimulating device delivers the stimulation only if the credentials of the specialist are verified and only according to the prescription. | 05-19-2011 |
20110118810 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTABLE LEADLESS NERVE STIMULATION - Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate nerves to treat medical conditions such as pain, and other conditions, such as, CHF, obesity, incontinence, etc., that could be controlled by the stimulation of the vagal nerves. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the nerve, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the pre-determined nerve site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located in the various regions on or around the nerve that needs to be stimulated. The implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates different nerves and regions of a nerve to provide therapeutic benefit. | 05-19-2011 |
20110125221 | FAILSAFE PROGRAMMING OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - A watchdog unit receives stay-alive signals from a programming device during programming of an implantable medical device. The watchdog unit maintains a watchdog timer, and resets the timer upon receipt of each stay-alive signal. If the watchdog timer expires, the watchdog unit changes a mode of operation of the implantable device, e.g., places the implantable medical device into a known, safe state. For example, the watchdog unit may cause the implantable medical device to suspend delivery of therapy, perform a power-on reset, and/or recall a known, safe, therapy delivery program. | 05-26-2011 |
20110137378 | Telemetry System for Use With Microstimulator - An implantable microstimulator configured to be implanted beneath a patient's skin for tissue stimulation employs a bi-directional RF telemetry link for allowing data-containing signals to be sent to and from the implantable microstimulator from at least two external devices. Further, a separate electromagnetic inductive telemetry link allows data containing signals to be sent to the implantable microstimulator from at least one of the two external devices. The RF bidirectional telemetry link allows the microstimulator to inform the patient or clinician regarding the status of the microstimulator device, including the charge level of a power source, and stimulation parameter states. The microstimulator has a cylindrical hermetically sealed case having a length no greater than about 27 mm and a diameter no greater than about 3.3 mm. A reference electrode is located on one end of the case and an active electrode is located on the other end of the case. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137379 | TELEMETRY NOISE REDUCTION - A device includes a housing and electronics disposed in the housing. A telemetry antenna is disposed in the housing and is operably coupled to the electronics. A shielding coil is disposed between the housing and the telemetry antenna. The shielding coil has a first end and a second end. The second end is electrically terminated in circuitry of the electronics. | 06-09-2011 |
20110152970 | LOCATION-BASED RANKING AND SWITCHING OF WIRELESS CHANNELS IN A BODY AREA NETWORK OF MEDICAL DEVICES - Operating techniques and methodologies for a body area network of medical devices are provided. One technique relates to an intelligent channel hopping scheme that detects loss of wireless synchronization on an initial wireless channel, thereafter obtains a measure of quality for the initial wireless channel, and then selects a new wireless channel when the obtained measure of quality fails to satisfy a threshold criteria. Another operating technique dynamically adapts an ordered list of available wireless channels in accordance with a quality measure of the available wireless channels. Thus, when quality degradation associated with a first wireless channel is detected, the ordered list can be updated to indicate a lower preference for the first wireless channel and to indicate a higher preference for a second wireless channel that does not suffer from quality degradation. Another channel hopping or switching technique selects wireless channels in a manner that is influenced by the current geographic position of the medical device. | 06-23-2011 |
20110152971 | ANTENNA ARRANGEMENTS FOR IMPLANTABLE THERAPY DEVICE - Embodiments of an implantable medical device includes a loop antenna wound about an inner housing. The loop antenna may form a partial winding, a complete winding, or multiple windings about the inner housing. One or more additional antennae may be capacitively coupled to the loop antenna external to the inner housing to increase efficiency and decrease Return Loss Response of the implantable device. The additional antenna may be balanced or unbalanced antennae. | 06-23-2011 |
20110160801 | COMMUNICATION WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE DURING IMPLANTATION - A system and method are described for delivering an implantable medical device in a patient and through a catheter. The delivery catheter comprises telemetry means for communicatively coupling the implantable medical device with an external instrumentation during implantation. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160802 | BIO-MEDICAL UNIT SYSTEM FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY - A system includes bio-medical units and an electromagnetic signal generating unit. A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, a wireless communication module, a processing module, and a functional module that performs physical therapy function and generates physical therapy data. The electromagnetic signal generating unit that includes at least one signal generating module and a plurality of near field communication (NFC) modules. The signal generating module generates one or more signals and an NFC module converts the one or more signals into a component of electromagnetic signal, which the power harvesting module converts into a supply voltage that powers the other modules of the bio-medical unit. | 06-30-2011 |
20110166628 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEDICAL DEVICE DATA PROCESSING AND MANAGEMENT - A system, method, and computer readable medium for monitoring and controlling medical devices having a data processing server configured to receive from a user instructions relating to a medical device. The system also includes an application hosting device configured to receive the instructions from the data processing server. The application hosting device is further configured to modify the instructions for transmission to the medical device. The medical device is configured to receive the modified instructions and perform the modified instructions. Another aspect provides an application hosting device that captures medical device data and includes a processor and a connection unit configured to establish a link to exchange information. The application hosting device is configured to connect to a plurality of medical devices simultaneously. The plurality of medical devices comprise at least one master device and at least one slave device. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166629 | MEASURING ANTENNA MATCHING VIA TRANSMITTER CURRENT DRAW - This document discusses, among other things, an implantable telemetry system including an RF transceiver configured to drive an antenna and a matching circuit, configured to be coupled to the antenna, the matching circuit including a control parameter configured to adjust the impedance of the matching circuit. The implantable telemetry system also includes a control circuit configured to receive an indication of the RF transceiver current draw and to control the control parameter of the matching circuit using the received indication of current draw. In an example, the control parameter is controlled to decrease the RF transceiver current draw. | 07-07-2011 |
20110172740 | Method and apparatus for controlling an implantable medical device - A system and methods of maintaining communication with a medical device for exchange of information, instructions, and programs, in a highly reliable manner. Apparatus and methods for accomplishing this task include:
| 07-14-2011 |
20110172741 | PROXIMITY BASED SELECTION OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE FOR FAR FIELD COMMUNICATION - Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD. | 07-14-2011 |
20110178576 | Pressure-Sensitive External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device - An improved external charger for an implantable medical device is disclosed in which charging is at least partially controlled based on a sensed pressure impingent on its case, which pressure is indicative of the pressure between the external charger and a patient's tissue. The improved external charger includes pressure detection circuitry coupled to one or more pressure sensors for controlling the external device in accordance with the sensed impingent pressure. The sensed pressure can be used to control charging, for example, by suspending charging, by adjusting a maximum set point temperature for the external charger based on the measured pressure, or by issuing an alert via a suitable user interface. By so controlling the external charger on the basis of the measured pressure, the external charger is less likely to create potentially problematic or uncomfortable conditions for the user. | 07-21-2011 |
20110178577 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A DIVERSITY ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A far-field radio frequency (RF) telemetry system for communicating with an implantable medical device includes a diversity antenna system. Multi-frame messages each including multiple outgoing data frames are transmitted to the implantable medical device. In response, the implantable medical device transmits response data frames each following one or more of the outgoing data frames, according to a predetermined communication protocol. An antenna control circuit selects an antenna of the diversity antenna system for transmitting the outgoing data frames and/or receiving the response data frames based the quality of signal reception associated with the response data frames. | 07-21-2011 |
20110178578 | PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSDUCER - Devices and systems for transmitting information within a body are disclosed. An example system includes a signal generator configured for transmitting an acoustic interrogation signal, a sensor for sensing at least one parameter within the body and generating an electrical sensor signal, an acoustic transducer coupled to the sensor and configured to convert a received acoustic interrogation signal into an electrical signal, and a switching element adapted to modulate a reflected acoustic wave from the acoustic transducer based on the electrical sensor signal. The switching element is configured to controllably change the mechanical impedance of the acoustic transducer based a parameter of the electrical sensor signal, such as frequency. | 07-21-2011 |
20110184491 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - The disclosure relates generally to wireless communication with an implantable medical device. An implantable medical device (IMD) may initiate the establishment of a communication session by sending a wakeup communication to an external device with which the IMD desires to communicate. The external device may operate in low power state (sometimes referred to as a sleep state or a low current state) in which the external device occasionally powers up telemetry circuitry to monitor for the wakeup communication from the IMD. Upon receiving the wakeup communication, the external device transitions from the low power state to a high power state to establish the communication session with the IMD. Operating the external device in the low power state when no communication session is established reduces the amount of power consumed by the external device when no telemetry is occurring, thus enabling the external device to be powered by a battery. | 07-28-2011 |
20110184492 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION BETWEEN IMPLANTABLE DEVICES - A system for communicating information between at least two medical devices implanted within the body of a subject using volume conduction of electrical signals as a means of communication and wherein one of the implanted medical devices is configured to provide electrical stimulation to the tissue is disclosed. The system comprises a first implant device having at least two transmit electrodes configured to transmit electrical stimulation pulses, wherein one of the electrodes may be a common return electrode, an encoding means configured to employ a channel as a transmitter transmission medium for stimulation pulses and encoding the information into the stimulation pulses, a second implant device having at least two receive electrodes configured to receive the transmitted stimulation pulses with encoded information, and a decoding means configured to decode the information encoded into the stimulation pulses. The disclosed system provides reliable and efficient communication between implantable receiver devices. | 07-28-2011 |
20110184493 | DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM FOR NEUROSTIMULATION THERAPY PROGRAMMING - A distributed system comprises a programming device and a remotely located server. During a programming session, the programming device transmits programs and rating information associated with the programs to the server. The server presents the rating information to a clinician to assist the clinician in selecting from among programs tested during the programming session. The programming device may also transmit patient information and device configuration information to the server for storage with selected programs and rating information within a database as part of a patient record. Programs and information received from a plurality of programming devices and for a plurality of patients may be stored in the database and analyzed by the server to provide responses to user queries made by clinicians via programming devices. | 07-28-2011 |
20110190850 | CLOCK SYNCHRONIZATION IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM - This disclosure is directed to the synchronization of clocks of a secondary implantable medical device (IMD) to a clock of a primary IMD. The secondary IMD includes a communications clock. The communications clock may be synchronized based on at least one received communications pulse. The secondary IMD further includes a general purpose clock different than the communications clock. The general purpose clock may be synchronized based on at least one received power pulse. The communications clock may also be synchronized based on the at least one received power pulse. | 08-04-2011 |
20110190851 | STIMULATION MODE SWITCHING BASED ON TISSUE IMPEDANCE STABILITY - Implantable medical devices switch from a constant current mode of operation to a constant voltage mode of operation. The switching may be based on the device determining that tissue impedance stability has occurred. The determination may be a measurement of output voltage stability of the constant current source or based on other factors such as an amount of time that has elapsed. The switching may be as the result of an externally generated request such as by a clinician via an external device. The implantable medical device may begin constant voltage mode by utilizing stimulation parameters based on those initially programmed for constant current mode and based upon a measurement of voltage amplitude being output by the constant current source prior to the switch. | 08-04-2011 |
20110190852 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES AND SYSTEMS HAVING DUAL FREQUENCY INDUCTIVE TELEMETRY AND RECHARGE - Implantable devices and related systems utilize coils or coil portions of a coil for inductive telemetry at one frequency and recharge at another frequency. The coils or coil portions are included in one or more tank circuits that share at least one node between the coils or coil portions. The recharge application may be provided with variations for aspects including power management and rectification. The telemetry application may be provided with variations for aspects including receiver connectivity for the downlink and coil driving for the uplink. | 08-04-2011 |
20110196449 | ENABLEMENT AND/OR DISABLEMENT OF AN EXPOSURE MODE OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - This disclosure describes techniques for enabling and/or disabling an exposure operating mode using telemetry signals. A telemetry device may be configured to periodically transmit telemetry signals indicating presence of a source of a disruptive energy field in accordance with a communication protocol. An implantable medical device may be configured to receive the telemetry signals from the telemetry device and enter the exposure operating mode in response to receiving a first one of the telemetry signals indicating the presence of the source of the disruptive energy field. The implantable medical device may also exit the exposure operating mode in response to not receiving any of telemetry signals indicating the presence of the source of the disruptive energy field for a predetermined period of time. | 08-11-2011 |
20110196450 | ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION ACTIVATION DEVICE - This disclosure describes techniques for configuring an IMD into the exposure operating mode. Prior to a medical procedure that generates a disruptive energy field, such as an MRI scan, an electronic prescription is configured to indicate that the IMD is authorized for the medical procedure that includes a disruptive energy field. The electronic prescription includes one or more designated bits within a storage element of the IMD. When the patient in which the IMD is implanted arrives for the medical procedure, a user (such as an MRI operator) interacts with a telemetry device to determine whether the electronic prescription is configured. Upon determining that the electronic prescription is configured, the IMD transitions into the exposure operating mode designed for operation in the disruptive energy field. In this manner, the electronic prescription confirms to the user that that the IMD has been checked for suitability for operation during the medical procedure. | 08-11-2011 |
20110196451 | Communications Network for Distributed Sensing and Therapy in Biomedical Applications - An implantable medical device system is provided with multiple medical devices implanted in a patient's body and a wireless mesh communication network providing multiple communication pathways between the multiple medical devices. A communication pathway between a first and a second implanted device of the multiple medical devices can comprise one or more of the other implanted multiple medical devices. | 08-11-2011 |
20110196452 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING ENERGY TO AN IMPLANT - A system is disclosed which comprises an implantable electrical medical device ( | 08-11-2011 |
20110196453 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH AN IMPROVED ANTENNA - An implantable medical device has a housing having a first housing surface side, a second housing surface side opposing the first housing surface side, and an intermediate surface side extending between the first and second housing surface sides. The implantable medical device has an antenna device arranged at the first housing surface side, continuing at the intermediate surface side and further at the second housing surface side. Improved radiation characteristics are obtained in a desired direction. | 08-11-2011 |
20110202112 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING INTERMITTENT INTERRUPTIONS IN ELECTRICAL STIMULATION THERAPY OF A PATIENT - In one embodiment, a method of identifying a cause of intermittent interruption in stimulation therapy, comprises: communicating a signal by an external controller device to an implantable pulse generator to initiate a diagnostic mode; generating a stimulation pulses by the implantable pulse generator for application to tissue of the patient through one or more electrodes of a stimulation lead during the diagnostic mode; measuring impedance values for stimulation pulses applied to tissue of the patient through the stimulation lead during the diagnostic mode; directing the patient to perform one or more physical movements while the implantable pulse generator is operating in the diagnostic mode; processing the impedance values to identify time-domain limited variations in the impedance measurements from an expected value range; and displaying on the external controller device identification of one or more electrodes exhibiting intermittent electrical breaks or shorts in accordance with the processed impedance measurements. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202113 | ADAPTIVE STAGED WAKE-UP FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE COMMUNICATION - A communication wake-up scheme for an implantable medical device may involve repeatedly activating a receiver to determine whether an external device is attempting to establish communication with the implantable device. To reduce the amount of power consumed by the implantable device in conjunction with the wake-up scheme, the scheme may involve conducting preliminary RF signal detections as a precursor to conducting a full scan. In this way, power may be conserved since the more power intensive full scans may be performed less frequently. This preliminary detection of RF signals also may be adapted to reduce the number of full scans performed by the implantable device that do not result in communication with the external device. In some embodiments the adaptation involves adjusting one or more thresholds that are used in conjunction with the preliminary detection of RF signals. In some embodiments a wake-up scheme may involve scanning for signals using an initial RF band that is relatively wide, and then scanning for signals using narrower RF bands. | 08-18-2011 |
20110208268 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER-ON-RESET DETECTION AND DECODING - Systems, methods and devices are provided for automatically detecting and classifying power-on-reset (POR) events occurring in medical devices. Data regarding the operating parameters of the medical device is communicated to a remote server where a POR detection algorithm is operated to detect whether a POR event occurred in the medical device. Upon detection of a POR event, the remote server determines a severity rating of the POR event, a basis of the POR event, and/or the time of the POR event, where this information is associated with the POR event itself. An automated alert message is then generated and communicated to at least one of a patient, a clinician, a care giver or another device with the information about the POR event. | 08-25-2011 |
20110218594 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A piezoelectric element within an external ultrasonic transducer assembly can be used for wireless communication of data between an implantable device and the external ultrasonic transducer assembly such as using ultrasonic energy coupled to a flexible portion of a housing of the transducer assembly. The flexible portion can be configured to contact skin of a body containing the implantable device. The transducer assembly can be configured to respectively transmit or receive ultrasonic energy using at least partially overlapping respective ranges of resonant frequencies. | 09-08-2011 |
20110224757 | Multiplexed Multi-Electrode Neurostimulation Devices - Implantable stimulation devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include a multiplexed multi-electrode component configured for neural stimulation. The multiplexed multi-electrode component includes two or more individually addressable satellite electrode structures electrically coupled to a common conductor. The satellite structures include a hermetically sealed integrated circuit controller operatively coupled to one or more electrodes. Also provided are systems that include the devices of the invention, as well as methods of using the systems and devices in a variety of different applications. | 09-15-2011 |
20110257706 | LOW ENERGY COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICES - Techniques are generally described for low average power communications that can be used for communications between one or more bionic implants and/or one or more control units. Bionic implants and/or control units can be adapted to provide stimulus control and/or sensory or other feedback back from the bionic implants. An example system may include implant devices configured to exchange brief messages between other devices. Some examples may rely on coarse message timing that can be derived from a quartz tuning fork type of resonator. Carrier frequency control can be derived from an on-chip MEMS resonator adapted for high frequency use. An electrical stimulation power supply in each implant can be configured for use in nerve/muscle excitation and/or as a polarizing voltage source for the MEMS resonator. Various compensation mechanisms are described that can be used to compensate for the imprecise and/or temperature dependent frequency in the MEMS resonator. | 10-20-2011 |
20110257707 | NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH ADJUSTABLE PROGRAMMING RATE - Neurostimulation systems, control systems, and methods for providing therapy to a patient are provided. Electrical stimulation energy is delivered to a tissue region in accordance with different stimulation parameter sets. The delivered electrical stimulation energy is incrementally transitioned through a first series of the different stimulation parameter sets at a user-defined rate in response to a single user actuation of a control mechanism. The user-defined rate is adjusted, and the delivered electrical stimulation energy is incrementally transitioned through a second series of the different stimulation parameter sets at the adjusted rate in response to a single user actuation of the control mechanism. | 10-20-2011 |
20110264172 | MRI-Safe Disc Magnet for Implants - A magnetic arrangement is described for an implantable system for a recipient patient. A planar coil housing contains a signal coil for transcutaneous communication of an implant communication signal. A first attachment magnet is located within the plane of the coil housing and rotatable therein, and has a magnetic dipole parallel to the plane of the coil housing for transcutaneous magnetic interaction with a corresponding second attachment magnet. | 10-27-2011 |
20110270358 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE PROGRAMMING USING GESTURE-BASED CONTROL - A programming device includes a touchscreen display, a processor, and a communication module. The processor controls the display to present a graphical icon on a first portion of the display. The processor detects a gesture-based contact between an object and the first portion of the display and determines a value of a therapy parameter associated with therapy delivered by a medical device based on the detection of the gesture-based contact. The communication module transmits information to the medical device to control the medical device to deliver the therapy based on the value of the therapy parameter. | 11-03-2011 |
20110276110 | Power Circuitry for an Implantable Medical Device Using a DC-DC Converter - Improved power circuitry for charging a battery in an implantable medical device is disclosed. The improved power circuitry uses a DC-DC converter positioned between the rectifier and the battery in the implant to be charged, and operates to boost the voltage produced by the rectifier to a higher compliance voltage used to charge the battery. Because the rectifier can now produce a smaller DC voltage, the AC voltage preceding the rectifier (the coil voltage), can also be lessened. Lowering the coil voltage reduces the amount of heat generated by the coil, which reduces the overall heat generated by the implant during receipt of a magnetic charging field from an external charger during a charging session, which improves patient safety. Additionally, a reduced coil voltage means that the external charger can reduce the intensity of the magnetic charging field, which also reduces heat generated in the external charger during the charging session. | 11-10-2011 |
20110295340 | Multiple Telemetry and/or Charging Coil Configurations for an Implantable Medical Device System - 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. | 12-01-2011 |
20110301668 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING ENERGY TO AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implanted coil supplies energy or control signals to, or provides information from, a medical device implanted in a human or animal patient. Preferably, the coil is implanted subcutaneously in the patient at a location suitable for easy access to the coil. The implanted coil is wound from a wire that is formed into a plurality of smaller diameter coils connected in series and positioned perpendicular to the larger implanted coil. Preferably, the wire used to form the implanted coil is a helically-shaped wire that is very resilient, and, thus, capable of handling even extreme movements of a patient in whom it is implanted without the risk of breaking. | 12-08-2011 |
20110307033 | CHARGE LEVEL MEASUREMENT - This disclosure describes techniques for estimating an amount of charge on a power source. A processor may determine an uncertainty value associated with a first charge level of a power source and an uncertainty value associated with a second charge level of the power source. Based on the uncertainties, the processor may adjust the first charge level to generate an adjusted charge level. The processor may further adjust the adjusted charge level based on the behavior of the power source. | 12-15-2011 |
20110313493 | MEDICAL ACCESSORY PROXIMITY TESTING, DETECTION, AND ALERTING SYSTEM - Disclosed is a system having an implanted component and external component which are configured to provide a test of wireless communication in order to assess the success or failure of such communication and to store attributes related to such test in a memory log. To provide the communication test the implantable and external components can attempt wireless communication according to communication test parameters which relate to number of times to retry communication, duration of sending communication test signals, durations of waiting for communication test signals and the schedule of the communication tests. The schedule of tests may be period or may change over time in order to become more or less frequency according to a programmable schedule that may also decrease if the communication tests are successful and indicate patient compliance in keeping the external components close by. The communication tests can assist in determining if the patient is maintaining external components within a suggested proximity (e.g. 6 feet) of the patient and may assist to determine if transmission or reception difficulties are the source of communication failure. A physician programmer can provide for programming, conducting, summarizing and assessing the results of communication tests. | 12-22-2011 |
20110313494 | PACEMAKER RF TELEMETRY REPEATER AND METHOD - A system and method for repeating radio frequency (RF) transmissions between a programmer and an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an RF repeater. According to various embodiments, the repeater includes a first antenna and a first communication circuit electrically connected to the first antenna. The first communication circuit is adapted to communicate with an IMD, the IMD including a built-in active telemetry transceiver, over a first channel. The device also includes a second antenna and a second communication circuit electrically connected to the second antenna. The second communication circuit is adapted to communicate with a programmer over a second channel different from the first channel. The device also includes a control circuit coupled to the first and second communication circuits. The control circuit is adapted to enable or disable the first and second communication circuits. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. | 12-22-2011 |
20120004708 | Implantable Medical Device and Charging System Employing Electric Fields - An implantable medical device and external base station system are disclosed. The external base station can provide a passive electric field to power the implant, or to charge its battery. The base station may also power or charge using magnetic fields under certain circumstances. The Implantable medical device may comprise an implantable neurostimulator having a number of electrode leads extending from its body. One or more of the electrode leads can comprise the antenna for receiving the electric field from the base station, and resonance in that antenna can be rectified to provide the power for recharging the battery. Although the E-field provided by the base station does not provide as much power for recharging as does other traditional charging techniques (such as those using magnetic fields), it can occur passively and over longer distances to allow the patent's implant to be recharged when in relative proximity to the base station. | 01-05-2012 |
20120010682 | MEDICAL TELEMETRY SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREFOR - A method in a telemetry system for establishing a connection between a base station and an implantable medical device includes the steps of: starting, in the base station, a first timer B-T | 01-12-2012 |
20120022616 | Vestibular Implant System with Internal and External Motion Sensors - A partially implantable vestibular prosthesis system is described which includes an external movement sensor that is attachable to the outer skin surface of a patient's head for generating an external movement signal which represents movement of the patient's head. An external transmitter is in communication with the external movement sensor and provides an electromagnetic transmission of an implant communication signal which includes a signal component based on the external movement signal and an electrical power component that provides electrical power for implanted system components. An internal movement sensor is implantable under the skin of the patient's head for generating an internal movement signal which represents movement of the patient's head. And an implant processor also is implantable under the skin and in communication with the internal movement sensor and the external transmitter for generating an implant stimulation signal based on one of the movement signals to electrically stimulate target neural tissue for vestibular sensation by the patient. | 01-26-2012 |
20120029598 | Antenna For An Implantable Medical Device - This disclosure describes antenna structures for use in an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include a housing that hermetically encloses electronic components of the implantable medical device and a fixation mechanism that affixes the implantable medical device to a target location, such as a wall of a vessel. The fixation mechanism functions as a radiating element of an antenna of the implantable medical device. The housing of the implantable medical device may include a conductive loop that electrically couples to a telemetry module and magnetically couples to the fixation mechanism. The telemetry module may provide signals to be transmitted to the inner loop and those signals are magnetically coupled between the inner loop and the fixation mechanism, which radiates the signals. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029599 | NEUROSTIMULATION PROGRAMMERS WITH IMPROVED RF ANTENNA RADIATION PATTERNS - To provide for an improvement in the communication between an external handheld programmer and an implantable pulse generator (IPG) implanted within a patient or an external pulse generator attached to the patient, an antenna of the programmer is positioned relative to the ground plane of the programmer such that when a person handholds the programmer in its predetermined intended orientation a radiation pattern produced by the antenna has substantially maximum RF radiation generally directed toward the patient, regardless whether the person that handholds the programmer is the patient or another person located near the patient. | 02-02-2012 |
20120041518 | NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH GRAPHICALLY MANIPULATABLE STIMULATION TARGET - An external control device for use with a neurostimulation device having a plurality of electrodes carried by at least one neurostimulation lead. The external control device comprises a display screen configured for displaying at least one object relative to a graphical representation of the neurostimulation lead(s). The object(s) represents an abstraction of a stimulation target. The external control device further comprises detection circuitry configured for detecting an actuation event that includes placing at least one pointing element in proximity to the object(s). The external control device further comprises processing circuitry configured for manipulating the object(s) on the display screen in response to the detection of the actuation event, thereby modifying the stimulation target abstraction, and for generating a set of stimulation parameters that emulates the modified stimulation target abstraction. The external control device further comprises output circuitry configured for transmitting the set of stimulation parameters to the neurostimulation device. | 02-16-2012 |
20120059436 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING INTERFERENCE IN STIMULATION TREATMENT - Systems and methods are provided for reducing stimulation interference between two stimulation modules positioned on a user's body, which may be used in stimulation systems without a central treatment controller. Systems and methods are also provided for stimulation treatment using multiple independent stimulators wirelessly managed by a remote management device. | 03-08-2012 |
20120101551 | External Controller For an Implantable Medical Device Formed Using a Sub-Assembly - An improved external controller useable with an implantable medical device is disclosed. The external controller comprises a front cover, a back cover, and a sub-assembly. The sub-assembly comprises an electronics chassis on which non-surface mount components, such as the telemetry coils and the battery, can be affixed. The sub-assembly also includes the printed circuit board for the external controller, which is integrated into the chassis and electrically coupled to the telemetry coils and the battery. Once completed, the sub-assembly can be bolted between a front cover and a back cover, such that edges of the sub-assembly comprise the edges of the external case of the external controller. | 04-26-2012 |
20120109258 | DETERMINATION OF DIPOLE FOR TISSUE CONDUCTANCE COMMUNICATION - Aspects of the present disclosure include a medical device system including an implantable medical device and an external device with three or more electrodes configured to contact a patient's skin. The external device either transmits or receives a test signal to or from the implantable medical device using a plurality of possible receive dipoles, where each possible receive dipole is formed by a pair of electrodes. A signal quality monitor, either at the implantable medical device or at the external device, measures a signal quality for the possible receive dipoles. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109259 | LOW-POWER SYSTEM CLOCK CALIBRATION BASED ON A HIGH- ACCURACY REFERENCE CLOCK - Various techniques are described for periodically performing a calibration routine to calibrate a low-power system clock within an implantable medical device (IMD) based on a high accuracy reference clock also included in the IMD. The system clock is powered continuously, and the reference clock is only powered on during the calibration routine. The techniques include determining a clock error of the system clock based on a difference between frequencies of the system clock and the reference clock over a fixed number of clock cycles, and adjusting a trim value of the system clock to compensate for the clock error. Calibrating the system clock with a delta-sigma loop, for example, reduces the clock error over time. This allows accurate adjustment of the system clock to compensate for errors due to trim resolution, circuit noise and temperature. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109260 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE TELEMETRY IN DISRUPTIVE ENERGY FIELD - An implantable medical device may include a telemetry module, a sensing module, a therapy delivery module, and a processor. The processor may be configured to detect a patient event based on data generated by the sensing module, operate the IMD in a first mode in which the telemetry module is disabled and the therapy delivery module is at least partially disabled when the patient event is not detected, and operate the IMD in a second mode in which the telemetry module is enabled and the therapy delivery module is at least partially disabled when the patient event is detected. In some examples, the processor is configured to, in the second mode, generate a notification of the cardiac arrhythmia and transmit the notification to an external device via the telemetry module. The external device may reside inside an MRI room or outside the MRI room, and may communicate with other devices. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109261 | PROTECTING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE FROM EFFECTS CAUSED BY AN INTERFERING RADIATION FIELD - Techniques are described for protecting an implantable medical device (IMD) from effects caused by interfering radiated fields. An IMD incorporating these techniques may include a telemetry conduction path that includes a first end electrically coupled to a telemetry antenna and a second end electrically coupled to a telemetry circuit disposed within a housing of the IMD. The IMD may further include a stub filter electrically coupled to the telemetry conduction path and configured to attenuate an interfering signal induced in the telemetry conduction path. The stub filter may include a dielectric and a conductor disposed within the dielectric. The conductor may include a first end electrically coupled to the telemetry conduction path and a second end configured in an open circuit configuration. The conductor may have an electrical length approximately equal to one-quarter wavelength of the interfering signal when propagating through the stub filter. | 05-03-2012 |
20120123503 | PATIENT PROGRAMMER WITH CUSTOMIZABLE PROGRAMMING - This disclosure describes techniques for configuring external programmers for use with implantable medical devices. The techniques may include customizing a generic external programmer, e.g., a patient programmer, with an application for interfacing with the implanted medical device. In one example, a method includes receiving, from a clinician programmer, a selected one of a plurality of applications, wherein each of the applications is configured to control the operation of a patient programmer, the selected application is associated with a type of the IMD, and others of the plurality of applications are associated with different types of IMDs, and configuring, based on the received application, the patient programmer to present an interface that enables a user to interact with the IMD via the patient programmer. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123504 | MANUALLY INITIATING WIRELESS RECEPTION OF RESUSCITATION EVENT DATA FROM MEDICAL DEVICE - An external defibrillator can include a bump sensor for generating motion information and a bump detector for determining whether the external defibrillator has been subjected to a local bump event. The external defibrillator can transmit wirelessly a data signal encoding resuscitation event data to a second external defibrillator over a wireless communication link between the two devices. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123505 | IMPLANTABALE NEUROSTIMULATOR-INITIATED STATUS NOTIFICATION - A medical system comprises an implantable medical device having a power source, the implantable medical device configured for monitoring a quantity of the stored energy in the power source, generating a battery status signal based on the monitored quantity of stored energy, and for transcutaneously transmitting a communication initiation signal and the battery status signal. The medical system further comprises an external device configured for transcutaneously receiving the communication initial signal and the battery status signal from the rechargeable implantable medical device, changing from a relatively low energy consumption state to a relatively high energy consumption state in response to the received communication initiation signal, and for generating a user-discernible signal in response to the received status signal. | 05-17-2012 |
20120130450 | FOLDED ANTENNAS FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - In an example, an apparatus can include an implantable medical device comprising a housing, an implantable telemetry circuit carried within the housing, a dielectric compartment mechanically coupled to the housing, the dielectric compartment including first and second substantially parallel face portions and a third face portion extending between the first and second face portions, and an implantable telemetry antenna, located at least partially within the dielectric compartment. The implantable telemetry circuit can be electrically coupled to the implantable telemetry antenna and configured to wirelessly transfer information electromagnetically using the implantable telemetry antenna. In an example the implantable telemetry antenna comprises a spiral conductor portion extending along the first, second, and third face portions. In an example the spiral conductor includes a cross section having a lateral width that can be greater than a sidewall height of the cross section | 05-24-2012 |
20120130451 | FOLDED ANTENNAS FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - Subject matter such as a method or apparatus can include an implantable medical device comprising a housing, an implantable telemetry circuit carried within the housing, and a dielectric compartment, mechanically coupled to the housing an implantable telemetry antenna, such as located at least partially within the dielectric compartment. The implantable telemetry circuit can be electrically coupled to the implantable telemetry antenna and configured to wirelessly transfer information electromagnetically using the implantable telemetry antenna. The implantable telemetry antenna can include a spiral conductor portion extending along a face portion of the dielectric compartment, and a loading portion configured to adjust an input impedance of the implantable telemetry antenna, to provide a specified input impedance range within a specified range of operating frequencies to be used for wireless information transfer. | 05-24-2012 |
20120165902 | MULTI-ELECTRODE IMPLANTABLE SYSTEMS AND ASSEMBLIES THEREOF - Hermetically sealed assemblies, for example, that include IC chips, are configured for incorporation within a connector terminal of an implantable medical electrical lead, preferably within a contact member of the terminal. An assembly may include two feedthrough subassemblies, welded to either end of the contact member, to form an hermetic capsule, in which an IC chip is enclosed, and a tubular member, which allows a lumen to extend therethrough, along a length of the terminal. A multi-electrode lead may include multiplexer circuitry, preferably a switch matrix element and a communications, control and power supply element that are electrically coupled to the contact member and to another contact member of the terminal. Each pair of switch matrix switches allows for any two of the electrodes to be selected, in order to deliver a stimulation vector, via stimulation pulses from a device/pulse generator, to which the connector terminal is connected. | 06-28-2012 |
20120172947 | Multiple Telemetry and/or Charging Coil Configurations for an Implantable Medical Device System - 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. | 07-05-2012 |
20120197347 | FAR FIELD TELEMETRY OPERATIONS BETWEEN AN EXTERNAL DEVICE AND AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE DURING RECHARGE OF THE IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE VIA A PROXIMITY COUPLING - Far field telemetry operations are conducted between an external device and an implantable medical device while power is being transferred to the implantable medical device for purposes of recharging a battery of the implantable medical device. The far field operations may include exchanging recharge information that has been collected by the implantable medical device which allows the external device to exercise control over the recharge process. The far field operations may include suspending far field telemetry communications for periods of time while power continues to be transferred where suspending far field telemetry communications may include powering down far field telemetry communication circuits of the implantable medical device for periods of time which may conserve energy. The far field operations may further include transferring programming instructions to the implantable medical device. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197348 | FAR FIELD TELEMETRY COMMUNICATION WITH A MEDICAL DEVICE DURING A RECHARGE SESSION WHERE A PRIOR PAIRING WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAY NOT EXIST - Far field telemetry communications are conducted during recharge sessions between an external device and an implantable medical device. The two devices may not have been previously paired together for far field telemetry and may have been paired with other devices for far field telemetry during previous recharge sessions and/or programming sessions. Embodiments provide for temporary bonding of the two devices for far field telemetry during the recharge session. The implantable medical device of the recharge session may maintain a programming bond with an external device other than the external device conducting the recharge session. Safeguards against establishment of inadvertent programming sessions between the external device that has conducted a recharge session and implantable medical devices that may or may not be bonded to that external device are provided. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197349 | COMMUNICATION DIPOLE FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - This disclosure is directed to an implantable medical device having a housing that encloses at least a communication module. The implantable medical device also includes a first electrode electrically coupled to the communication module and an electrically conductive fixation mechanism that is mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the communication module within the housing. The electrically conductive fixation mechanism includes a dielectric material that covers part of a surface of the fixation mechanism. A portion of the electrically conductive fixation mechanism is not covered by the dielectric material such that the portion of the electrically conductive fixation mechanism is exposed to form a second electrode that is electrically coupled to the communication module. The communication module is configured to communicate using the first electrode and second electrode. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197350 | COMMUNICATION DIPOLE FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - This disclosure is directed to an implantable medical device having a communication dipole configured in accordance with the techniques described herein. In one example, the disclosure is directed to an implantable medical device comprising a housing that encloses at least a communication module, a first electrode of a communication dipole electrically coupled to the communication module and an electrically conductive fixation mechanism that is electrically coupled to a portion of the housing and wherein a portion of the fixation mechanism is configured to function as at least part of a second electrode of the communication dipole. The electrically conductive fixation mechanism includes a dielectric material that covers at least part of a surface of the fixation mechanism. The communication module is configured to transmit or receive a modulated signal between the first electrode and second electrode of the communication dipole. | 08-02-2012 |
20120209352 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device includes a housing having a coating selectively provided on only a portion of the housing and a plurality of electronic components provided within an interior space defined by the housing. A first of the electronic components is a charging or telemetry coil and a second of the electronic components is a circuit board. The coating is provided on the housing in a first region near a component of the circuit board and is not provided on the housing in a second region near the charging or telemetry coil. The coating has a magnetic permeability suitable to and is provided in an amount effective to reduce MRI image distortion caused by the component of the circuit board. | 08-16-2012 |
20120209353 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE TELEMETRY WITH ADAPTIVE FREQUENCY HOPPING - A far-field radio-frequency (RF) telemetry system transmits data between an implantable medical device and an external system using an active channel selected from a plurality of channels each representing a frequency band within a predetermined frequency range. One or more preferred channels are identified from the plurality of channels based on channel quality indicators produced for each of the channels. When channel hopping is needed, a hop channel is selected from the one or more preferred channels and becomes the active channel. | 08-16-2012 |
20120215286 | Telemetry-Based Wake Up of an Implantable Medical Device in a Therapeutic Network - An external controller wishing to communicate with a particular microstimulator in a microstimulator therapeutic network broadcasts a unique wake-up signal corresponding to a particular one of the microstimulators. Each microstimulator has its unique wake-up signal stored in memory, and the wake-up signals for each microstimulator are also stored in the external controller. The microstimulators power up their receiver circuits to listen for a wake-up signal at the beginning of a power-on window. Each microstimulator not recognizing the received wake-up signal (because it does not match the wake-up signal stored in its memory) will power off their receivers at the end of the power-on window, or earlier once recognition cannot be established. The one microstimulator recognizing the received wake-up signal (because it matches the wake-up signal stored in its memory) will realize that the external controller wishes to communicate with it, and will send an acknowledgment to the external controller, which will in turn send the desired communication to the now-active microstimulator. | 08-23-2012 |
20120232617 | HEADER DESIGN FOR IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR - In one embodiment, an implantable pulse generator for electrically stimulating a patient comprises: a metallic housing enclosing pulse generating circuitry; a header mechanically coupled to the metallic housing, the header adapted to seal terminals of one or more stimulation leads within the header and to provide electrical connections for the terminals; the header comprising an inner compliant component for holding a plurality of electrical connectors, the plurality of electrical connectors electrically coupled to the pulse generating circuitry through feedthrough wires, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are held in place in recesses within the compliant inner component, the header further comprising an outer shield component adapted to resist punctures, the outer shield component fitting over at least a portion of the inner compliant component. | 09-13-2012 |
20120253424 | FEED-THROUGH CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR AND METHOD OF USE - A connector assembly for a medical device for connecting an IPG to a connector assembly for connecting the IPG to a relatively large plurality of electrodes that can support 24 or more stimulation channels for stimulating one or more stimulation regions of a patient. Also the IPG and the stimulation system and the stimulation therapy utilizing the connector assembly. | 10-04-2012 |
20120265272 | TELEMETRY ANTENNAS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES AND MEDICAL DEVICES INCLUDING TELEMETRY ANTENNAS - In an embodiment, an antenna for a medical device, e.g., an implantable medical device (IMD), comprises an electrically conductive wire that spirals to form a three-dimensional shape of a rectangular cuboid. In another embodiment, the antenna comprises an electrically conductive wire that spirals to form a three-dimensional shape of an elliptical cylinder, an oval cylinder, an elongated pentagonal prism, an elongated hexagonal prism, or some other shape where the longitudinal diameter of the antenna is greater than the lateral diameter of the antenna. The antennas are sized to fit within a portion of a header of the medical device. Such antennas are designed to provide increased antenna gain and antenna bandwidth. | 10-18-2012 |
20120271379 | INTER-CHIP COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMPLANTABLE STIMULATING DEVICES - A device including a first integrated circuit (IC), a second IC configured to provide instructions to the first IC based on received data, wherein the first IC is a high-voltage IC and the second IC is a low-voltage IC, and a communication interface between the first and second ICs including a data bus of parallel data lines. The second IC is configured to select, based on the received data, one of a plurality of different communication modes for providing the instructions to the first IC via the communication interface, wherein each mode is defined by a quantity of address data and a quantity of configuration data used to provide the instructions to the first IC. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271380 | ADAPTIVELY CONFIGURING THE VALIDATION TIMEOUT OF A SESSION KEY USED FOR SECURING COMMUNICATION WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Methods, devices and systems are disclosed that provide for dynamically adjusting the valid lifespan of a session key for wireless communication sessions established between at least two medical devices. Adjusting the session key lifetime balances protecting the communications link so that it is not unnecessarily susceptible to eavesdropping by third parties or other interference while obviating the need for a user to repeatedly perform access control steps. | 10-25-2012 |
20120283800 | Neural Stimulator System - An implantable neural stimulator includes one or more electrodes, a dipole antenna, and one or more circuits and does not include an internal power source. The one or more electrodes are configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to neural tissue. The dipole antenna is configured to receive an input signal containing electrical energy utilizing electrical radiative coupling (for example, in the frequency range form 300 MHz to 8 GHz). The one or more circuits are configured to create one or more electrical pulses using the electrical energy contained in the input signal; supply the electrical pulses to the electrodes such the electrical pulses are applied to neural tissue; generate a stimulus feedback signal; and send the feedback to the dipole antenna to transmit to the second antenna through electrical radiative coupling. | 11-08-2012 |
20120296398 | TELEMETRY WAND - A telemetry wand to facilitate communication between a programmer and a neurostimulator device. The telemetry wand comprises an antenna, telemetry circuitry configured for transmitting signals between the programmer and the neurostimulator device via the antenna coil, a threaded screw receptacle configured for receiving a bolt of a conventional camera tripod, and a housing carrying the antenna coil, the telemetry circuitry, and the threaded screw receptacle. | 11-22-2012 |
20120296399 | Array of Joined Microtransponders for Implantation - A wireless microtransponder array constructed as a single structure of joined microtransponders. The microtransponders can be configured as a linear array strip with connective material in between. The microtransponders can also be entirely embedded within a strip of material, or joined by a single, common substrate structure. | 11-22-2012 |
20120310305 | PATIENT HANDHELD DEVICE FOR USE WITH A SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM - A patient feedback device for communicating with a programming device of an electrical stimulation system. The device includes a housing, a sensor, a controller, and a communication port. The sensor is supported by the housing and generates a sensor signal in response to an action from the patient. The controller is supported by the housing and is in operative communication with the sensor. The controller receives the sensor signal and sends information to the communication port based on the sensor signal. The communication port is connected to the housing and is in operative communication with the controller. The communication port receives information from the controller and wirelessly transmits a communication signal to the programming device of the electrical stimulation system. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310306 | Telemetry Protocol for Ultra Low Error Rates Useable in Implantable Medical Devices - 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 | 12-06-2012 |
20120316620 | METHOD OF POWER AND DATA TRANSFER IN IMPLANTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A system for transferring data and power between electronic devices implanted in a patient is described. The system comprises a first unit and a second unit that in use are both implanted in the patient and a cable connecting the first unit and the second unit. The first unit comprises a current supply unit that supplies a selected current output to the second unit via the cable and a processor configured to anticipate an action to be performed by the second unit and to select the current output dependent on the anticipated action. | 12-13-2012 |
20120330380 | SECURE TELEMETRIC LINK - A communications protocol is used to provide data privacy, message integrity, message freshness, and user authentication to telemetric traffic, such as to and from implantable medical devices in a body area network. In certain embodiments, encryption, message integrity, and message freshness are provided through use of token-like nonces and ephemeral session-keys derived from device identification numbers and pseudorandom numbers. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330381 | AUTOMATED DEVICE PROGRAMMING AT CHANGEOUT - This document discusses, among other things, methods and systems for facilitating automated device programming at changeout. A method comprises receiving, from a first device, physiological data at a temporary storage device; and processing the received physiological data, wherein the processing includes determining if a first signal processing function was used by the first device and substantially offsetting the first signal processing function if the first signal processing function was used by the first device; and processing the resultant physiological data to be compatible with a second device. The method further comprising providing the processed resultant physiological data to the second device. | 12-27-2012 |
20130018438 | FAR FIELD RADIATIVE POWERING OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL THERAPY DELIVERY DEVICES - A particular implantable device may include an antenna configured to receive a far field radiative signal. The implantable device may also include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the far field radiative signal received by the antenna to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a therapy delivery unit powered by the charge storage element. The therapy delivery unit is operative to deliver a therapy to a patient. | 01-17-2013 |
20130018439 | IMPLANTABLE NERVE WRAP FOR NERVE STIMULATION CONFIGURED FOR FAR FIELD RADIATIVE POWERING - A particular implantable device may include an antenna configured to receive a far field radiative signal. The implantable device may also include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the far field radiative signal received by the antenna to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a stimulation module powered by the charge storage element. The stimulation module may be operative to generate an electrical stimulation signal to stimulate a target nerve of a patient. The implantable medical device may further include a nerve wrap configured to house the voltage rectifier, the charge storage element, and the stimulation module. The nerve wrap may include one or more electrodes operative to deliver the electrical stimulation signal to the target nerve. | 01-17-2013 |
20130066401 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RESOLVING INTERACTION BETWEEN PROGRAMMABLE PARAMETERS - This document discusses, among other things, a system capable of resolving interactions between programmable parameters for operation of a medical device. Programming these devices is a difficult task when many parameters are involved. The disclosed systems and methods attempt to reduce and minimize constraint violations between interdependent parameters using an initial set of parameter values supplied by user (typically a physician) input or calculated automatically, and constraint violations describing invalid parameter values. If possible, a set of parameter values with less egregious constraint violations is generated and may be displayed to the user. A user is prompted to accept the set of parameter values and program the medical device. | 03-14-2013 |
20130079848 | EXTERNAL SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATION LEADS AND DEVICES, AND METHODS OF USING SAME - Embodiments herein include an external system and method to detect an implanted lead coupled to an implanted neurostimulation device (INSD). The system and method comprise a handheld probe having electrodes configured to be positioned external to a surface of a patient and proximate to a region of the patient having the implanted lead for an implanted INSD. The electrodes are configured to measure a stimulation output from the implanted lead of the INSD. The system and method include a controller coupled to the electrodes to receive measured signals from the electrodes. The measured signals represent the stimulation output of the INSD. The controller processes the measured signals to obtain lead information. The system includes a user interface to present the lead information to a user. The lead information is indicative of at least one of an operation of the lead and a position of the lead. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079849 | RELAY MODULE FOR IMPLANT - An implementation provides a system that includes: a control module including a first antenna, the control module configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) signal and transmit the first RF signal using the first antenna; an implantable lead module including a second antenna and at least one electrode configured to stimulate excitable tissue of a subject; and a relay module configured to receive the first RF signal; generate a second RF signal based on the first RF signal, the second RF signal encoding a stimulus waveform to be applied by the at least one electrodes of the implantable lead module to stimulate the excitable tissue of the subject; and transmit the second RF signal to the implantable lead module. | 03-28-2013 |
20130090705 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RF WAKE-UP OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A telemetry system is presented for enabling wireless communications between an implantable medical device and an external device in a manner which reduces the power requirements of the implantable device by duty cycling its wireless communication circuitry. A wakeup scheme for the implantable device is provided in which the external device transmits a data segment containing a repeating sequence of special wakeup characters in order to establish a communications session with the implantable device. The wakeup scheme may be designed to operate in the context of a handshaking protocol for collision avoidance. | 04-11-2013 |
20130096648 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESETTING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - In one embodiment, a method, of operating an implantable medical device, comprises: (i) operating reset logic within the implantable medical device that is independently operable from a processor of the implantable medical device after the implantable medical device is implanted within a patient, wherein the processor is adapted for central control of the implantable medical device; (ii) operating a magnetic field sensor in the implantable medical device; (iii) generating digital data using, at least, the magnetic field sensor; (iv) detecting, by the reset logic, a digital key in the digital data; (v) in response to (iv), asserting a reset signal on a pin of the processor by the reset logic; and (vi) conducting reset operations in the processor in response to the reset signal. | 04-18-2013 |
20130096649 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EMS DEVICE COMMUNICATION INTERFACE - A system for supplementing communications capabilities of a patient monitoring device, the system including an interface device configured to communicably couple with and to receive the patient monitoring information from the patient monitoring device, a memory device hosted by the interface device and configured to store at least a portion of the patient monitoring information, a wireless transceiver hosted by the interface device, a database hosted by the interface device; and a processor communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver and the asset management database, the processor configured to format the patient monitoring information into one or more data objects, each of the one or more data objects associated with an EMS incident during which the patient monitoring information was gathered, the processor further configured to store the one or more data objects to the database and to transmit the one or more data objects with the wireless transceiver. | 04-18-2013 |
20130103115 | Communication and Charging Circuitry for a Single-Coil Implantable Medical Device - Communication and charging circuitry for an implantable medical device is described having a single coil for receiving charging energy and for data telemetry. The circuitry removes from the AC side of the circuit a tuning capacitor and switch traditionally used to tune the tank circuitry to different frequencies for telemetry and charging. As such, the tank circuitry is simplified and contains no switchable components. A switch is serially connected to the storage capacitor on the DC side of the circuit. During telemetry, the switch is opened, thus disconnecting the storage capacitor from the tank circuit, and alleviating concerns that this capacitor will couple to the tank circuit and interfere with telemetry operations. During charging, the switch is closed, which allows the storage capacitor to couple to the tank circuitry through the rectifier during some portions of the tank circuitry's resonance. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103116 | SYSTEMS CONFIGURED TO TRANSMIT OPTICAL POWER SIGNALS TRANSDERMALLY OUT OF A LIVING SUBJECT, AND DEVICES AND METHODS - In an embodiment, a system includes an internal optical power transmitter configured to be disposed within a living subject. The internal optical power transmitter includes a power source configured to provide electrical energy and an electrical-optical converter operably coupled to the power source. The electrical-optical converter may be configured to convert at least a portion of the electrical energy into one or more optical power signals transdermally transmittable out of the living subject. The system further includes an external optical-electrical converter configured to convert the one or more optical power signals into one or more electrical power signals and at least one external device configured to be operably coupled to the external optical-electrical converter and powered by the one or more electrical power signals. Embodiments of methods, biocompatible electrical-optical converters, and internal optical power transmitters are also disclosed. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103117 | SYSTEMS CONFIGURED TO TRANSMIT OPTICAL POWER SIGNALS TRANSDERMALLY OUT OF A LIVING SUBJECT, AND DEVICES AND METHODS - In an embodiment, a system includes an internal optical power transmitter configured to be disposed within a living subject. The internal optical power transmitter includes a power source configured to provide electrical energy and an electrical-optical converter operably coupled to the power source. The electrical-optical converter may be configured to convert at least a portion of the electrical energy into one or more optical power signals transdermally transmittable out of the living subject. The system further includes an external optical-electrical converter configured to convert the one or more optical power signals into one or more electrical power signals and at least one external device configured to be operably coupled to the external optical-electrical converter and powered by the one or more electrical power signals. Embodiments of methods, biocompatible electrical-optical converters, and internal optical power transmitters are also disclosed. | 04-25-2013 |
20130110202 | CONVERTER DEVICE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH MULTIPLE MEDICAL DEVICES | 05-02-2013 |
20130110203 | Managing a Multi-function Coil in an Implantable Medical Device Using an Optical Switch | 05-02-2013 |
20130116751 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAPPING ARBITRARY ELECTRIC FIELDS TO PRE-EXISTING LEAD ELECTRODES - A system for a neurostimulator coupled to electrodes, and a method of providing therapy to a patient using the electrodes implanted within the patient. A target multipole relative to the electrodes is defined. The target multipole is emulated by defining an initial electrical current distribution for the electrodes, such that a first set of active electrodes respectively has electrical current values of a first polarity. Each of the electrical current values of the first polarity is compared to a first threshold value, and at least one of the electrodes in the first active electrode set is zeroed-out based on the comparison. The electrical current value of each of the zeroed-out electrode(s) is redistributed to remaining ones of the electrodes to define a new electrical current distribution for the electrodes. Electrical current is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the new electrical current distribution, thereby providing the therapy. | 05-09-2013 |
20130131759 | SHIELDING TELEMETRY COMMUNCIATIONS BETWEEN ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES AND EXTERNAL INSTRUMENTS FROM HIGH POWER ELECTRICAL INTERFERERS - Disclosed herein is a shield for shielding a telemetry wand from electromagnetical interference capable of interfering with telemetry communications between the telemetry wand and an AIMD in a patient. The telemetry wand may include a first side that is configured to be placed against a patient, a second side generally opposite the first side, a lateral side between the first and second sides, a hole extending between the first and second sides, and a cable extending from the lateral side. The shield may include a shell including a wall that defines a volume and an opening in the shell. The volume may be configured to receive therein the telemetry wand such that the second and lateral sides of the telemetry wand face respective portions of the wall and the first side faces the opening in the shell. | 05-23-2013 |
20130150924 | Pacemaker for Unilateral Vocal Cord Autoparalysis - A stimulation system and method for treating a human subject having unilateral vocal cord paralysis includes a sensing electrode configured to detect voice activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and to generate a first signal, and a processor configured to receive the first signal from the sensing electrode and to generate at least one stimulation parameter based on the first signal. The system further includes a stimulating electrode configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and to activate a glottis closing reflex of the subject in response to the stimulation parameter. | 06-13-2013 |
20130150925 | REMOTE CONTROL FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system and method for modifying the parameters of an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device that communicates with a remote control device that, in turn, communicates through the browser of a computer or any other device capable of using mark-up language protocol. The computer optionally communicates with other computers and/or devices through a network. | 06-13-2013 |
20130165995 | Multiple Telemetry and/or Charging Coil Configurations for an Implantable Medical Device System - 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. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165996 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Selective Stimulation - An implantable neurostimulator system is disclosed, the neurostimulator system comprising a hollow cylindrical electronics enclosure having a top, a bottom, and a side; a coil extending from a first part of the electronics enclosure; and at least one electrode operatively connected to the electronics enclosure. | 06-27-2013 |
20130184787 | NEURAL PROSTHESIS - A neural prosthesis includes a centralized device that can provide power, data, and clock signals to one or more individual neural prosthesis subsystems. Each subsystem may include a number of individually addressable, programmable modules that can be dynamically allocated or shared among neural prosthetic networks to achieve complex, coordinated functions or to operate in autonomous groups. | 07-18-2013 |
20130226265 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WHICH MAY BE CONTROLLED FROM CENTRAL STATION - An implantable medical device (IMD) comprises a transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting medical data sensed from a patient to, and for receiving control signals from, a medical expert (a human medical professional and/or a computerised expert system) at a remote location; an electronic medical treatment device for treating the patient in response to control signals applied thereto; and a sensor circuit, having a sensor circuit output, for producing sensor circuit output signal(s) representing medical data sensed from the patient. The IMD also includes logic device which analyses the sensor circuit output signal(s) to detect a medical abnormality and, upon detecting an abnormality, either sends a notification signal representing a medical state of said patient to the medical expert at the remote location or sends a local treatment device control signal to the medical treatment device, or does both. | 08-29-2013 |
20130238056 | RF-POWERED COMMUNICATION FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - A communication circuit of an implantable device is coupled to a power source (e.g., including a battery) upon receipt of a radiofrequency (RF) signal at the implantable device. A circuit that controls whether the communication circuit is to be coupled to the power source obtains its power from the received RF signal. Thus, the implantable device is able to perform RF signal monitoring (e.g., RF “sniffing”) without using battery power. Battery power is then used for subsequent communication operations after it has been determined that the implantable device is receiving RF signals (e.g., from a verified external device). | 09-12-2013 |
20130245720 | Using the Case of an Implantable Medical Device to Broaden Communication Bandwidth - An improved implantable pulse generator (IPG) containing improved telemetry circuitry is disclosed. The IPG includes a telemetry coil within the conductive IPG case, not in the non-conductive header as is typical, which simplifies IPG design. The improved resonant circuit of which the coil is a part does not include a discrete tuning resistor with the coil, which tuning resistor was traditionally used to increase communication bandwidth of the coil to render it suitable for FSK telemetry. In lieu of the tuning resistor, the coil is intentionally inductively coupled to the case by positioning the coil a certain distance away from the case. Such coupling decreases the effective inductance and increases the effective series resistance in the improved resonant circuit, both of which increase the communication bandwidth. As such, suitable FSK telemetry can be achieved, even though the improved resonant circuit without the case would not on its own have suitable bandwidth. | 09-19-2013 |
20130253612 | CIRCUIT, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FAR-FIELD RADIATIVE POWERING OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An isolated circuit including a RF input configured to receive a far field radiative powering signal and a rectified voltage output configured to provide a rectified voltage based on the received far field radiative powering signal. The isolated circuit also includes a first power assembly comprising a first impedance coupled to the RF input where the first impedance is provided, at least in part, by activating a first switch in response to the rectified voltage satisfying a first voltage threshold. The isolated circuit also includes a second power assembly comprising a second impedance coupled to the RF input where the second impedance is provided, at least in part, by activating the first switch and a second switch in response to the rectified voltage satisfying the first voltage threshold and a second voltage threshold, respectively. | 09-26-2013 |
20130268028 | Diversity Antennas for Neurostimulator Programming Devices - The present disclosure involves a programmer configured to program an implanted medical device. The programmer includes a circuit board and first and second wireless communication devices located on the circuit board. The first wireless communication device is configured to operate in a first frequency band. The second wireless communication device is configured to operate in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. The first and second wireless communication devices are each configured to communicate wirelessly with the implanted medical device. The programmer includes a first group of antennas coupled to the first wireless communication device. The antennas in the first group have first different positions on the circuit board. The programmer includes a second group of antennas coupled to the second wireless communication device. The antennas in the second group have second different positions on the circuit board. | 10-10-2013 |
20130310895 | NEUROSTIMULATOR SYSTEM APPARTUS AND METHOD - An apparatus ( | 11-21-2013 |
20130310896 | WIRELESS PATIENT COMMUNICATOR FOR USE IN A LIFE CRITICAL NETWORK - A portable housing supports a processor coupled to memory for storing medical firmware and wireless radio firmware, first and second radios, a processor, and a power source. Communications are effected between an implantable medical device and the first radio in accordance with program instructions of the medical firmware, and between the second radio and the wireless network in accordance with program instructions of the wireless radio firmware. The first and second radios are configured to operate cooperatively in a first testing configuration, by which the first radio operates as a transmitter and the second radio operates as a receiver, and cooperatively in a second testing configuration, by which the second radio operates as a transmitter and the first radio operates as a receiver. Functional testing of the first and second radios is implemented using one or both of the first and second testing configurations. | 11-21-2013 |
20130338734 | SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF NERVES - A system for treatment of gait disorders includes an external device in the form of a pulse generator ( | 12-19-2013 |
20140005749 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION OF LEAD REVERSAL | 01-02-2014 |
20140005750 | Vestibular Implant System with Internal and External Motion Sensors | 01-02-2014 |
20140005751 | POWER EFFICIENCY IN A MEDICAL IMPLANT BASED SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140025139 | Receiver With Dual Band Pass Filters and Demodulation Circuitry for an External Controller Useable in an Implantable Medical Device System - Receiver and demodulation circuitry for an external controller for an implantable medical device is disclosed. The circuitry comprises two high Quality-factor band pass filters (BFPs) connected in series. Each BFP is tuned to a different center frequency, such that these center frequencies are outside the band of frequencies transmitted form the IMD. The resulting frequency response is suitably wide to receive the band without attenuation, but sharply rejects noise outside of the band. The resulting filtered signal is input to a comparator to produce a square wave of the filtered signal, which maintains the frequencies of the received signal and is suitable for input to a digital input of a microcontroller in the external controller. Demodulation of the square wave occurs in the microcontroller, and involves assessing the time between transitions in the square wave. These transmission timings are compared to expected transition times for the logic states in the transmitted data. The results of these comparisons are stored and filtered to remove noise and to recover the transmitted data. | 01-23-2014 |
20140031901 | TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONICALLY ASSESSING ELECTRODE CONDITION AND PERI-ELECTRODE TISSUE CONDUCTIVITY CHANGE PRE- AND POST-MRI - A neurostimulation system and method of operating an implantable neurostimulation device configured for outputting electrical stimulation energy to at least one electrode in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters. The implantable neurostimulation device may be switched from a normal operating mode to a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) operating mode. Electrical parameter measurements may be repeatedly acquired at each of the electrode(s) in response to the placement of the implantable stimulation system in the MRI mode. A corrective action may be performed based on at least one of the repeatedly acquired electrical parameter measurements. | 01-30-2014 |
20140052218 | Method for Controlling Telemetry in an Implantable Medical Device Based on Power Source Capacity - An implantable microstimulator configured for implantation beneath a patient's skin for tissue stimulation to prevent and/or treat various disorders, uses a self-contained power source. Periodic or occasional replenishment of the power source is accomplished, for example, by inductive coupling with an external device. A bidirectional telemetry link allows the microstimulator to provide information regarding the system's status, including the power source's charge level, and stimulation parameter states. Processing circuitry automatically controls the applied stimulation pulses to match a set of programmed stimulation parameters established for a particular patient. The microstimulator preferably has a cylindrical hermetically sealed case having a length no greater than about 27 mm and a diameter no greater than about 3.3 mm. A reference electrode is located on one end of the case and an active electrode is located on the other end. The case is externally coated on selected areas with conductive and non-conductive materials. | 02-20-2014 |
20140058479 | Minimizing Interference Between Charging and Telemetry Coils in an Implantable Medical Device - An improved implantable pulse generator (IPG) containing improved telemetry circuitry is disclosed. The IPG includes charging and telemetry coils within the IPG case, which increases their mutual inductance and potential to interfere with each other; particularly problematic is interference to the telemetry coil caused by the charging coil. To combat this, improved telemetry circuitry includes decoupling circuitry for decoupling the charging coil during periods of telemetry between the IPG and an external controller. Such decoupling circuitry can comprise use of pre-existing LSK circuitry during telemetry, or new discrete circuitry dedicated to decoupling. The decoupling circuitry is designed to prevent or at least reduce induced current flowing through the charging coil during data telemetry. The decoupling circuitry can be controlled by the microcontroller in the IPG, or can automatically decouple the charging coil at appropriate times to mitigate an induced current without instruction from the microcontroller. | 02-27-2014 |
20140058480 | REMOTE CONTROL OF POWER OR POLARITY SELECTION FOR A NEURAL STIMULATOR - A system, including: an implantable neural stimulator including electrodes, at least one antenna and an electrode interface; a radio-frequency (RF) pulse generator module comprising an antenna module configured to send an input signal to the antenna in the implantable neural stimulator through electrical radiative coupling, the input signal containing electrical energy and polarity assignment information that designates polarity assignments of the electrodes in the implantable neural stimulator; and wherein the implantable neural stimulator is configured to: control the electrode interface such that the electrodes have the polarity assignments designated by the polarity assignment information, create one or more electrical pulses suitable for modulation of neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal, and supply the electrical pulses to the electrodes through the electrode interface such that the electrodes apply the electrical pulses to the neural tissue with the polarity assignments designated by the polarity assignment information. | 02-27-2014 |
20140067019 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING DEVICES TO A NEUROSTIMULATOR - A method for defining connections between a plurality of lead bodies and a plurality of output ports of a neurostimulator, and an external control device for performing the method are disclosed. The external control device includes a user interface and control circuitry. The method includes displaying the lead bodies and the output ports of the neurostimulator; selecting a first one of the lead bodies; dragging a connector from the first lead body to a first one of the output ports of the neurostimulator; and dropping the connector onto the first output port of the neurostimulator, thereby defining a connection between the first lead body and the first output port of the neurostimulator. In another embodiment, a method includes defining the connection between the first lead body and the first output port, and graphically displaying the connection between the first lead body and the first output port of the neurostimulator. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067020 | Method and System of Graphical Representation of Lead Connector Block and Implantable Pulse Generators on a Clinician Programmer - The present disclosure involves a method of providing graphical representations of medical devices and connections between the medical devices. A graphical representation of a lead is displayed. The lead is configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via one or more of a plurality of electrode contacts. A graphical representation of one of: an implantable pulse generator (IPG) or a lead connector block is displayed. The IPG and the lead connector block are each configured for coupling with the lead. In response to a user input, a graphical representation of a connection is generated. The connection is between the lead and one of: the IPG or the lead connector block. An actual connection between the lead and one of: the IPG or the lead connector block is monitored. A status of the actual connection between the lead and one of: the IPG or the connector block is then reported. | 03-06-2014 |
20140100635 | Apparatus and Method for Extending Implant Life Using a Dual Power Scheme - A device according to some embodiments may include a housing configured for location external to a body of a subject. The device may also include at least one processor associated with the housing and configured for electrical communication with a power source, and an antenna associated with the at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to communicate with an implant circuit located within the body of the subject, cause the implant circuit to receive power in a first power mode and in a second power mode, wherein a first level of power delivered in the first power mode is less than a second level of power delivered in the second power mode, and wherein during a therapy period, power delivery in the first mode occurs over a total time that is greater than about 50% of the therapy period. | 04-10-2014 |
20140100636 | Antenna Providing Variable Communication With An Implant - A device may include a primary antenna configured to be located external to a subject and at least one processor in electrical communication with the primary antenna. The at least one processor may be configured to cause transmission of a primary signal from the primary antenna to an implantable device, wherein the implantable device includes at least one pair of modulation electrodes. The at least one processor may be further configured to adjust one or more characteristics of the primary signal to generate a sub-modulation control signal adapted so as not to cause a neuromuscular modulation inducing current at the at least one pair of modulation electrodes when received by the implantable device and to generate a modulation control signal adapted so as to cause a neuromuscular modulation inducing current at the at least one pair of modulation electrodes when received by the implantable device. | 04-10-2014 |
20140107732 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ENERGY DELIVERY AS A FUNCTION OF DEGREE OF COUPLING - A device for delivering energy as a function of degree coupling may include an external unit configured for location external to a body of a subject and at least one processor associated with the implant unit and configured for electrical communication with a power source. The device may further include a primary antenna associated with the at least one processor. The processor may be configured to determine a degree of coupling between the primary antenna and a secondary antenna associated with the implant unit, and regulate delivery of power to the implant unit based on the degree of coupling between the primary antenna and the secondary antenna. | 04-17-2014 |
20140107733 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WHICH MAY BE CONTROLLED FROM CENTRAL STATION - An implantable medical device (IMD) comprises a transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting medical data sensed from a patient to, and for receiving control signals from, a medical expert (a human medical professional and/or a computerized expert system) at a remote location; an electronic medical treatment device for treating the patient in response to control signals applied thereto; and a sensor circuit, having a sensor circuit output, for producing sensor circuit output signal(s) representing medical data sensed from the patient. The IMD also includes logic device which analyzes the sensor circuit output signal(s) to detect a medical abnormality and, upon detecting an abnormality, either sends a notification signal representing a medical state of said patient to the medical expert at the remote location or sends a local treatment device control signal to the medical treatment device, or does both. | 04-17-2014 |
20140107734 | Systems and Methods for Communicating with an Implantable Stimulator - An exemplary system for communicating with an implantable stimulator includes a coil configured to transmit a signal modulated with either on-off keying (OOK) modulation or Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) modulation. The system further includes a first telemetry receiver in the implantable stimulator configured to receive the signal in accordance with the OOK modulation and a second telemetry receiver in the implantable stimulator configured to receive the signal in accordance with the FSK modulation. | 04-17-2014 |
20140114376 | Electrode Configuration for Implantable Modulator - A device according to some embodiments may include an implantable flexible carrier and a pair of electrodes located on the carrier. The electrodes may be spaced from each other by a distance greater than 3 mm, and may be configured to cause, when supplied with an electrical signal, a unidirectional electric field sufficient to modulate at least one nerve. | 04-24-2014 |
20140121727 | MEDICAL DEVICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An implantable medical device is provided having circuitry to control operation of the implantable medical device and a receiver configured to receive communication signals on an allocated band of a plurality of communication channels separated in frequency by a channel spacing. The receiver includes an oscillator and a signal source configured to apply a quench signal to the oscillator. The quench signal has a frequency corresponding to the channel spacing. The receiver is enabled to receive on all of the plurality of communication channels simultaneously by applying the quench signal. | 05-01-2014 |
20140142661 | Sympathetic ganglion stimulation apparatus for treatment of hyperhidrosis, Raynauds phenomenon, cerebral ischemia, asthma and hypertension - Apparatuses for treatment of hyperhidrosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, cerebral ischemia and asthma and hypertension by nerve stimulation are disclosed. In particular, the invention relates to the improvement of these conditions by stimulating at least one ganglion selected from the group consisting of T-1 through T-4 ganglia, cervical ganglia, renal nerve or combinations thereof with an implantable, wireless, battery-less and lead-less stimulator. Stimulations of the ganglion may be carried out with pulsed radiofrequency, thermal energy or optical irradiation. | 05-22-2014 |
20140163644 | MINIMALLY INVASIVE IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM - An external medical device generates a drive signal inductively coupled to an implantable coil from an external coil. A regulator module coupled to the implantable coil generates an output signal in response to the inductively coupled signal and a feedback signal correlated to an amplitude of the inductively coupled signal. A signal generator receives the output signal for generating a therapeutic electrical stimulation signal. The control module adjusts the drive signal in response to the feedback signal to control the electrical stimulation signal. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163645 | MINIMALLY INVASIVE IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM - Various embodiments of a minimally invasive implantable medical device (IMD) system are described. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device system includes an external device for transmitting a communication signal and an implantable device for receiving the communication signal by inductive coupling. The implantable device is configured to harvest power from the inductively coupled communication signal and power a signal generator from the harvested power to generate a therapeutic electrical stimulation signal. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163646 | MINIMALLY INVASIVE IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM - An implantable medical device (IMD) has a housing enclosing an electronic circuit. The housing includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion and a joint coupling the first housing portion to the second housing portion. A polymer enclosure member surrounds the joint and circumscribes the housing in various embodiments. Other embodiments of an IMD housing are disclosed. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163647 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BLOCKING NERVE CONDUCTION - Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by cyclical blocking of conduction in peripheral neural structures with electrical blocking stimuli are disclosed. In an aspect, neural activity is blocked cyclically with an electrical blocking stimulus source implanted adjacent a nerve. In an aspect, a conduction block is produced in a sensory nerve. Neural modulation may be used, for example, to modulate an immune or inflammatory response or process. | 06-12-2014 |
20140172047 | IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR FOR STIMULATION OF A NEUROLOGICAL CELLULAR MASS - The invention relates to an implantable pulse generator ( | 06-19-2014 |
20140180365 | WEARABLE ANTENNA ASSEMBLY - A wearable device for facilitating neurophysiological treatment of a patient harboring an implanted neural stimulator is provided. The wearable device includes a transmitting antenna configured to accept one or more input signals and to transmit one or more electromagnetic signals to a neural stimulator that is implanted in a patient's body. The wearable device further includes a control circuitry configured to provide the one or more input signals to the transmitting antenna. The wearable device further includes a battery that provides electrical power to at least the control circuitry. The wearable device is configured to be worn outside the patient's body. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180366 | POWER SAVING COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A non-implantable communication unit conducts wireless communication with an implantable medical device (IMD). The communication unit comprises a request processor for generating power down requests destined to the IMD and triggering temporary power down of the IMD radio equipment. When the communication unit receives a data packet from the IMD or a connected programmer it determines the size of the data packet. A timer processor sets a timer to a value defined based on the determined size. A processor controller selectively controls the operation of request processor to generate or stop generating the power down requests based on a current value of the timer. Power down of the IMD radio equipment is thereby prevented if it is likely that the IMD comprises data to transmit to the communication unit as predicted based on data packet sizes. | 06-26-2014 |
20140207210 | OPTMIZING ENERGY TRANSMISSION IN A LEADLESS TISSUE STIMULATION SYSTEM - Method and systems for optimizing acoustic energy transmission in implantable devices are disclosed. Transducer elements transmit acoustic locator signals towards a receiver assembly, and the receiver responds with a location signal. The location signal can reveal information related to the location of the receiver and the efficiency of the transmitted acoustic beam received by the receiver. This information enables the transmitter to target the receiver and optimize the acoustic energy transfer between the transmitter and the receiver. The energy can be used for therapeutic purposes, for example, stimulating tissue or for diagnostic purposes. | 07-24-2014 |
20140214132 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE CHARGING - A particular method of providing power to an implantable medical device includes providing a first signal to a primary coil that is inductively coupled to a secondary coil of an implantable medical device. The method also include determining a first alignment difference between a voltage corresponding to the first signal and at least one of a current corresponding to the first signal and a component voltage at a component of a primary coil circuit. The method further includes determining a frequency sweep range based on the first alignment difference. The method also includes performing a frequency sweep over the frequency sweep range. | 07-31-2014 |
20140222109 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, MEDICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION - An implantable medical device including a data communication device that includes a device that alters an oscillatory electric field imposed on body tissue surrounding the implantable device. The device that alters an oscillatory electric field modulates an impedance of a conductive medium surrounding the implantable device when the implantable device is within an oscillatory electric field. The device that alters an oscillatory electric field includes a device that generates an oscillatory electric field that is phase-synchronized with an oscillatory electric field imposed on a conductive medium surrounding the implantable device. | 08-07-2014 |
20140222110 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, MEDICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION - An implantable medical device including a data communication device that includes a device to alter and/or generate an oscillatory electric field imposed on body tissue surrounding the implantable medical device when the implantable medical device is in its implanted state. The device that alters an oscillatory electric field modulates an impedance of body tissue surrounding the implantable medical device when the implantable medical device is in its implanted state and within an oscillatory electric field. The device that alters an oscillatory electric field includes a device that generates an oscillatory electric field that is phase-synchronized with an oscillatory electric field imposed on body tissue surrounding the implantable medical device when the implantable medical device is in its implanted state. | 08-07-2014 |
20140222111 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE PROVIDING STIMULATION THERAPY - An electrical stimulation system provides stimulation therapy to a patient. The system includes a neurostimulation lead that contacts patient tissue and couples with an implantable stimulation device, such as an implantable pulse generator, that receives stimulation parameters for providing stimulation therapy to a patient. The implantable stimulation device includes a header with a plurality of connector assemblies that receive an end of the neurostimulation lead, and a case containing a charging coil and a telemetry coil coupled to programming circuitry on a printed circuit board, which is in turn coupled to the connector assemblies via a feedthrough assembly. The telemetry coil receives data from an external programmer and transmits the data to the programming circuitry, which in turn uses the data to communicate to the connector assemblies and the neurostimulation lead to provide stimulation therapy to a patient. | 08-07-2014 |
20140236263 | Telemetry System For Use With Microstimulator - An implantable microstimulator configured to be implanted beneath a patient's skin for tissue stimulation employs a bi-directional RF telemetry link for allowing data-containing signals to be sent to and from the implantable microstimulator from at least two external devices. Further, a separate electromagnetic inductive telemetry link allows data containing signals to be sent to the implantable microstimulator from at least one of the two external devices. The RF bidirectional telemetry link allows the microstimulator to inform the patient or clinician regarding the status of the microstimulator device, including the charge level of a power source, and stimulation parameter states. The microstimulator has a cylindrical hermetically sealed case having a length no greater than about 27 mm and a diameter no greater than about 3.3 mm. A reference electrode is located on one end of the case and an active electrode is located on the other end of the case. | 08-21-2014 |
20140243930 | FOLDED ANTENNAS FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - In an example, an apparatus can include an implantable medical device comprising a housing, an implantable telemetry circuit carried within the housing, a dielectric compartment mechanically coupled to the housing, the dielectric compartment including first and second substantially parallel face portions and a third face portion extending between the first and second face portions, and an implantable telemetry antenna, located at least partially within the dielectric compartment. The implantable telemetry circuit can be electrically coupled to the implantable telemetry antenna and configured to wirelessly transfer information electromagnetically using the implantable telemetry antenna. In an example the implantable telemetry antenna comprises a spiral conductor portion extending along the first, second, and third face portions. In an example the spiral conductor includes a cross section having a lateral width that can be greater than a sidewall height of the cross section. | 08-28-2014 |
20140257433 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING DRY EYE IN ANIMALS - Described here are devices, systems, and methods for treating a condition in an animal. Generally the systems include a stimulator that is implantable in the animal and a controller system configured to transmit one or more signals to the implanted stimulator. The controller system may have a controller configured to generate the one or more signals. The controller system may include one or more collars, bridles, horse hoods, cages, animal beds, and/or food bowls. The systems may be used to treat one or more conditions such as dry eye, and may treat the conditions in an animal such as a horse, dog, or cat. | 09-11-2014 |
20140277285 | SUBTHRESHOLD LEAD IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT FOR SUBCUTANEOUS DEVICE - A subthreshold lead impedance technique is described for an implantable medical device. The lead impedance technique may be applicable to a subcutaneous implantable cardioversion defibrillator device and utilizes an output circuit of the device coupled between a first diode and a second diode to define a current path through two electrodes coupled to the output circuit. The second diode is further coupled to a switch to provide a current pathway from the first diode to circuit ground. A control circuit is coupled to the output circuit, the first diode, the second diode, and the switch to bias a leg of the output circuit in a conducting state while biasing the other legs of the output circuit in a non-conducting state. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277286 | SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHODS FACILITATING LONGEVITY EXTENSION FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - Systems, apparatus and methods for extension of longevity of implantable medical devices (IMDs) are provided. An apparatus includes a battery, a first communication component configured to provide a first communication type and to be powered by the battery, a second communication component configured to provide a second communication type, and a processor configured to switch on the first communication component or the second communication component to perform communication based, at least, on a defined condition being satisfied. In one embodiment, the first component is a radio frequency (RF) component and the second component is a component that requires less battery power than the RF component. The second component can include a component configured to perform communication based on inductive coupling or based on tissue conductance communication. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288617 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION - The present invention relates a method of treating heart failure in patients with coincident atrial fibrillation, the method comprising: screening of patients for selection of potential responders to neurostimulation based on heart rate variability; implanting a neurostimulator device around a vagus nerve in the selected patients followed by stimulating the vagus nerve at an electrical stimulus intensity below threshold for heart rate reduction; and remotely monitoring and controlling the neurostimulator based on cardiac health parameters of the patient subjected to vagal nerve stimulation. | 09-25-2014 |
20140288618 | IMPLANTABLE BIOLOGICAL ELECTRODE AND MEDICAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE SAME - An implantable biological electrode, including a wire ( | 09-25-2014 |
20140288619 | SWITCHED DIVERTER CIRCUITS FOR MINIMIZING HEATING OF AN IMPLANTED LEAD AND/OR PROVIDING EMI PROTECTION IN A HIGH POWER ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ENVIRONMENT - An energy management system that facilitates the transfer of high frequency energy induced on an implanted lead or a leadwire includes an energy dissipating surface associated with the implanted lead or the leadwire, a diversion or diverter circuit associated with the energy dissipating surface, and at least one non-linear circuit element switch for diverting energy in the implanted lead or the leadwire through the diversion circuit to the energy dissipating surface. In alternate configurations, the switch may be disposed between the implanted lead or the leadwire and the diversion circuit, or disposed so that it electrically opens the implanted lead or the leadwire when diverting energy through the diversion circuit to the energy dissipating surface. The non-linear circuit element switch is typically a PIN diode. The diversion circuit may be either a high pass filter or a low pass filter. | 09-25-2014 |
20140296939 | NERVE STIMULATION SYSTEM AND WIREBOARD THEREOF - A nerve stimulation system for a biological subject includes a stimulator to be disposed in the biological subject, sensing units to be disposed on the biological subject for obtaining biological information thereof, and an evaluation device. The evaluation device adjusts a parameter according to the biological information received from the sensing units, and generates a control signal indicating the parameter adjusted thereby. The stimulator wirelessly receives the control signal from the evaluation device, and generates a stimulation signal to stimulate the biological subject according to the parameter adjusted by the evaluation device. | 10-02-2014 |
20140324126 | Heating Control for an Inductive External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device - The disclosed technique for charging a battery in an implantable medical device using an external charger indirectly determines the total power dissipated as heat in the IPG (P_IPG) by accounting for the various powers in the external charger/IPG system which are either known or can be measured, such as the input power provided to the amplifier that drives the coil in the external charger (Psys), the power stored in the IPG's battery (Pstored), and the power dissipated in the external charger's charging coil as heat (P_EC) (which is measured). Determining P_IPG at the external charger in this manner allows the heat flux from the IPG to be calculated (F_IPG), and compared to a safe heat flux limit (F_IPG′) to allow for adjustment to the power of the magnetic charging field in a closed loop fashion. | 10-30-2014 |
20140324127 | Implantable Medical Device with Multi-Function Single Coil - A combination charging and telemetry circuit for use within an implantable device, such as a microstimulator, uses a single coil for both charging and telemetry. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, one or more capacitors are used to tune the single coil to different frequencies, wherein the coil is used for multiple purposes, e.g., for receiving power from an external source and also for the telemetry of information to and from an external source. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330346 | MOLDED HEADERS FOR IMPLANTABLE SIGNAL GENERATORS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Molded headers, implantable signal generators having molded headers, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An implantable signal generator in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a can having a shell and a battery positioned at least partially within the shell. An output terminal can be operably coupled to the battery and positioned to provide electrical power to a signal delivery device. A pre-molded header having a plurality of openings can be coupled to the can, and the output terminal can be positioned at least partially within an individual opening. | 11-06-2014 |
20140330347 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Systems and methods are described for communicating device information and performance information associated with a population of other electrodes to a remote transceiver. The system can include a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit coupled to an implantable component. The RFID circuit can include a memory circuit configured to store device information associated with at least one implantation-independent attribute of the implantable component. The RFID circuit can communicate the device information and performance parameters associated with the implantable component to at least one programming unit such as a remote transceiver. The programming unit can program the RFID circuit with information associated with the implantable component. | 11-06-2014 |
20140343633 | ELECTRICALLY IDENTIFIABLE ELECTRODE LEAD AND METHOD OF ELECTRICALLY IDENTIFYING AN ELECTRODE LEAD - An electrically identifiable medical electrode lead. The lead includes a flexible lead body having a distal end and a connector end. The lead also includes a plurality of electrodes disposed near the distal end of the flexible lead body. The lead further includes a connector disposed at the connector end of the flexible lead body, the connector including a plurality of contacts. The lead additionally includes a plurality of conductors supported by and passing through the flexible lead body, the plurality of conductors including electrical conductors that provide paths for electrical current from the connector to the plurality of electrodes. Finally, the lead includes a memory circuit supported by the flexible lead body and being in electrical communication with a contact of the plurality of contacts in the connector. | 11-20-2014 |
20140358195 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES, AND METHODS OF USE THEREWITH, THAT USE A SAME COIL FOR RECEIVING BOTH COMMUNICATION AND POWER SIGNALS - Implantable medical devices (IMDs), and methods for use therewith, use a same coil for receiving communication and power signals. An IMD, which is configured to operate in a charge or power mode and in a communication mode, includes a coil, power circuitry and communication circuitry. The coil includes first and second terminals and an intermediate tap therebetween. The power circuitry is coupled, during the charge or power mode, to a first portion of the coil extending between the first and second terminals of the coil. The communication circuitry is coupled to a second portion of the coil extending between the first terminal and the intermediate tap of the coil. A third portion of the coil, extending between the intermediate tap and the second terminal of the coil, is decoupled from the power circuitry during the communication mode, which prevents current from flowing through the third portion of the coil. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358196 | Implant Unit for Modulation of Small Diameter Nerves - An implant unit configured for implantation into a body of a subject is provided. The implant unit may include an antenna configured to receive a signal, and at least one pair of modulation electrodes configured to be implanted into the body of the subject in the vicinity of at least one nerve to be modulated. The at least one nerve may have a diameter less than about 2 millimeters at a modulation location, and the at least one pair of modulation electrodes may be configured to receive an applied electric signal in response to the signal received by the antenna and generate an electrical field to modulate the at least one nerve from a position spaced apart from the at least one nerve. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358197 | Arced Implant Unit for Modulation of Nerves - An implant unit configured for implantation into a body of a subject is provided. The implant unit may include a flexible carrier unit including a central portion and two elongated arms extending from the central portion, an antenna, located on the central portion, configured to receive a signal, at least one pair of electrodes arranged on a first elongated arm of the two elongated arms. The at least one pair of electrodes may be adapted to modulate a first nerve. The elongated arms of the flexible carrier may be configured to form an open ended curvature around a muscle with the nerve to be stimulated within an arc of the curvature. | 12-04-2014 |
20140371820 | Method and Apparatus for Stimulative Electrotherapy - An electrical apparatus includes a battery, a circuit adapted to generate a periodic signal, and a wireless radio transceiver. The electrical apparatus further includes a control circuit adapted to set a characteristic of the periodic signal. The characteristic is received by an input of the wireless radio transceiver. The electrical apparatus further includes a first electrically conductive electrode adapted to electrically contact and puncture a first portion of a surface when the periodic signal is injected below the first portion of the surface. The periodic signal is coupled to the first electrically conductive electrode. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371821 | Residual Signal Feedback-Based Control of an Implant - A wireless feedback device for monitoring an implant unit configured for location in a body of a subject is provided. The device may include a flexible substrate configured for removable attachment to the subject's skin, a primary antenna disposed on the flexible substrate, an interface configured to receive from the primary antenna a feedback signal based on wireless interaction with a secondary antenna associated with an implant unit configured to be located in the body of the subject, and at least one processing device. The at least one processing device may be configured detect a feedback signal on the primary antenna after cessation of a transmission to the secondary antenna, analyze the feedback signal to determine information relating to a function of the implant unit, and cause at least one response based on the analysis of the feedback signal. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371822 | Dynamic Modification of Modulation Throughout a Therapy Period - A device for controlling operation of a nerve-modulating implant unit from a location external to the body of the subject is provided. The device may include a flexible substrate configured for removable attachment to a subject's skin, a primary antenna disposed on the flexible substrate, and at least one processing device. The processing device may be configured to cause generation of a modulation control signal and application of the modulation control signal to the primary antenna in order to wirelessly transmit the modulation control signal to a secondary antenna on the implant unit to cause modulation of at least one nerve using energy transmitted wirelessly from the primary antenna to the secondary antenna, and cause a plurality of predetermined alterations of at least one characteristic of the modulation control signal over successive applications of the modulation control signal during a therapy period. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371823 | Antenna Buffer Layer for an Electromagnetic Control Unit - A unit for wirelessly transmitting power to an implant unit configured to be located in a subject's body is provided. The unit may include a flexible carrier including an adhesive backing configured for attaching the unit to skin of the subject, an antenna associated with the flexible carrier, the antenna being configured to wirelessly transmit power to the implant unit in response to a signal applied to the antenna, and a buffer layer disposed on the flexible carrier at a position to be between the antenna and the skin of the subject when the carrier is attached to the skin of the subject, the buffer layer being configured to establish an air gap between the skin of the subject and the antenna. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371824 | Ceramic Encapsulation of an Implantable Device - An implantable device is provided. The implantable device may include a flexible carrier configured for implantation in a subject, at least one pair of modulation electrodes associated with the carrier, an antenna configured to receive an electrical signal disposed on the flexible carrier, a circuit electrically coupling the antenna to the at least one pair of modulation electrodes; and a ceramic housing. At least one of the antenna and the circuit may be located within the ceramic housing. | 12-18-2014 |
20140379048 | CONDUCTIVE INTRA-BODY COMMUNICATION FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - An implantable medical device including a data communication interface connected to a pulse generator. The pulse generator generates and delivers forward current pulses and reverse current pulses, wherein a polarity of the reverse current pulses is opposite to the polarity of the forward current pulses. Generates pulses representing binary digits, wherein a first kind of digits (1 or 0) is represented by a current pulse, and a second kind of digit respective of the other type of binary digits (0 or 1) is represented by a pause between current pulses. The data communication interface together with the pulse generator deliver current pulses with strictly alternating polarity such that every other current pulse is a reverse current pulse of opposite polarity compared to an immediately preceding forward current pulse. Thus, every string of current pulse is both, charge balancing and information encoding. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379049 | Treatment of Sleep Apnea via Bilateral Stimulation - A neuromodulation device is provided. The neuromodulation device may include a carrier configured for implantation in a subject, the carrier including a first elongated arm and a second elongated arm, each extending from a central portion of the carrier. The device may further include a first pair of modulation electrodes arranged on the first elongated arm, a second pair of modulation electrodes arranged on the second elongated arm. The carrier may be sized and shaped for implantation in a vicinity of a hypoglossal nerve to be modulated such that the first pair of modulation electrodes is located to modulate a first hypoglossal nerve on a first side of the subject and the second pair of modulation electrodes is located to modulate a second hypoglossal nerve on a second side of the subject. | 12-25-2014 |
20150012067 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING NERVE FINDING FOR PERIPHERAL NERVE STIMULATION - A method of identifying a location for applying a stimulation therapy to treat a patient includes stimulating a first body region of the patient transcutaneously via a stimulus generator. The body region contains a first portion of a nerve that has an elongate shape. In response to the stimulating, action potentials received from a second portion of the nerve are monitored over a period of time. The second portion of the nerve is in a second body region of the patient that is located remotely from the first body region. Based on the monitoring, an optimized location of the second portion of the nerve is determined for applying the stimulation therapy to treat the first body region. | 01-08-2015 |
20150039053 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DELIVERING THERAPY USING AN AMBULATORY MEDICAL DEVICE - An ambulatory medical device capable of delivering therapy to a patient is provided. The ambulatory medical device comprises at least one controller operatively connected to at least one sensor configured to detect a health disorder of the patient, at least one treatment element configured to deliver therapy to the patient, and at least one response mechanism configured to be actuated by the patient, the at least one response mechanism having one of a first state and a second state. The at least one controller being configured to delay delivery of the therapy to patient for a first predetermined period of time responsive to detection of the health disorder and the at least one response mechanism having the first state, and to deliver the therapy to the patient in response to continued detection of the health disorder, the at least one response mechanism remaining in the first state. | 02-05-2015 |
20150039054 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WHICH MAY BE CONTROLLED FROM CENTRAL STATION - An implantable medical device (IMD) comprises a transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting medical data sensed from a patient to, and for receiving control signals from, a medical expert (a human medical professional and/or a computerized expert system) at a remote location; an electronic medical treatment device for treating the patient in response to control signals applied thereto; and a sensor circuit, having a sensor circuit output, for producing sensor circuit output signal(s) representing medical data sensed from the patient. The IMD also includes a logic device (processor) which analyzes the sensor circuit output signal(s) to detect a medical abnormality and, upon detecting an abnormality, either sends a notification signal representing a medical state of said patient to the medical expert at the remote location or sends a local treatment device control signal to the medical treatment device, or does both. The medical expert can transmit an external treatment control signal to the IMD to effect patient treatment, if treatment is warranted. To ensure that the medical expert is authorized to provide such treatment, data which identify one or more authorized medical experts is stored in an IMD memory and compared with identification data transmitted from the putative authorized medical expert along with the external treatment control signal. Only if the identification data received from the putative authorized medical expert matches the pre-stored identification data of an originally authorized medical expert does the IMD effect treatment. | 02-05-2015 |
20150039055 | INTERFACE APPARATUS FOR STIMULATION OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUE - An apparatus for interfacing between tissues being stimulated is provided. The apparatus includes an electric source capable of generating an applied electric field across a region of tissue and/or a means for altering at least one electromagnetic characteristic of the region of tissue relative to the applied electric field and an interface component, such interface component creating an interface between the region of tissue and the applied electric field or the means for altering at least one electromagnetic characteristic of the region of tissue. | 02-05-2015 |
20150057720 | NERVE ROOT STIMULATOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATING NERVE ROOT STIMULATOR - A nerve root stimulator, according to the present invention, comprises: a body which is installed at the spinal nerve root inside the human body; an antenna, which is provided on the body, for receiving a wireless frequency that is irradiated from outside of the human body; a power generation unit for generating power by using the wireless frequency that is received by the antenna; and electrodes for electrically stimulating the spinal nerve root by using the power that is generated by the power generation unit. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057721 | LEADLESS PACEMAKER WITH IMPROVED CONDUCTED COMMUNICATION - A leadless implantable medical device can include a hermetically scaled housing including a cylindrical body, a first surface at a first capped end of the cylindrical body, and a second surface at a second capped end of the cylindrical body. A first electrode can be located at the first capped end and a second electrode can be located on the second surface. The first and second electrodes include conductive portions configured for contacting one or both of tissue and fluid, and wherein the cylindrical body includes a length and the conductive portions of the first and second electrodes are separated substantially by the length of the cylindrical body. The device example also includes a therapy circuit configured to deliver electrical cardiac stimulating energy using the first and second electrodes, and a telemetry circuit configured to communicate with a second separate device. | 02-26-2015 |
20150066113 | Radiolucent Metal Case Plate to Facilitate Communications in an Implantable Medical Device - Disclosed is an improved case for an implantable medical device having an internal communication coil in which a lower-conductivity, more-radiolucent metallic plate is provided proximate to the coil. The remainder of the case can be formed of a higher-conductivity metallic material which is easier to form and thus lends itself to the manufacture of implantable medical devices with smaller cases for example. As both the plate and the remainder of the case are metallic, they can be easily joined by reliable laser welding techniques for example. | 03-05-2015 |
20150066114 | Construction for an Implantable Medical Device Employing an Internal Support Structure - Disclosed are designs and methods of construction for an implantable medical device employing an internal support structure. The single-piece support structure holds various electronic components such as a communication coil and a circuit board, and further is affixed to a battery, thus providing a subassembly that is mechanically robust. The support structure further provides electrical isolation between these and other components. Method of construction allows for the subassembly to be adhered to a case of the implantable medical device at the support structure, and possibly also at the battery, without electrically shorting the battery to the case. | 03-05-2015 |
20150066115 | Construction for an Implantable Medical Device Having a Battery Affixed to the Case - Disclosed are designs and methods of construction for an implantable medical device employing an internal support structure. The single-piece support structure holds various electronic components such as a communication coil and a circuit board, and further is affixed to a battery, thus providing a subassembly that is mechanically robust. The support structure further provides electrical isolation between these and other components. Method of construction allows for the subassembly to be adhered to a case of the implantable medical device at the battery, and possibly also at the support structure. The battery includes an insulating cover having holes. An adhesive is used consistent with the location of the holes to affix the battery to the case without electrically shorting the battery to the case. | 03-05-2015 |
20150073505 | MOBILE PHONE USING NON-INVASIVE NERVE STIMULATION - Devices, systems and methods are disclosed that allow a patient to self-treat a medical condition, such as migraine headache, by electrical noninvasive stimulation of a vagus nerve. The system comprises a handheld stimulator that is applied to the surface of the patient's neck, wherein the stimulator comprises or is joined to a smartphone. A camera of the smartphone may be used to position and reposition the stimulator to a particular location on the patient's neck. The system may also comprise a base station that is used to meter the charging of a rechargeable battery within the stimulator. The base station and stimulator transmit data to one another regarding the status of a stimulation session. | 03-12-2015 |
20150073506 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD-INDUCED HEATING FROM AN IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR - An implantable control module for an implantable electrical stimulation system includes a housing with at least a portion of the exterior forming a metallic structure and at least a portion of the interior defining a sealed compartment. The control module further includes an electronic subassembly disposed in the sealed compartment; a connector assembly coupled to the housing and defining a port for receiving a lead; connector contacts disposed in the port to electrically couple with terminals of the lead; feedthrough interconnects extending from the connector assembly into the sealed compartment and coupling the connector contacts to the electronic subassembly; and a coil disposed within or on the housing and configured and arranged to be shorted when an external electromagnetic field is applied in order to resist generation of an eddy current in the metallic structure of the exterior of the sealed housing in response to the external electromagnetic field. | 03-12-2015 |
20150088229 | Method and System to Remotely Control a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Device - A system to remotely control a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device is disclosed. The system includes a TENS control unit where a transceiver of the TENS control unit is configured to receive wireless Bluetooth signals transmitted from a smartphone, and to transmit wireless Bluetooth response signals to the smartphone in response to biofeedback from a user's body. The system also includes a controller configured to transmit electrical stimulus pulses during a treatment session in response to receiving the wireless Bluetooth signals, where the controller is configured to modulate pulse width, frequency, intensity, or any combination thereof, of the electrical stimulus pulses. A graphical user interface is accessible using the smartphone and configured for a user to select desired control commands to transmit to the TENS control unit using the wireless Bluetooth signals, where the control commands determine the electrical stimulus impulses that are applied to the user's body. | 03-26-2015 |
20150100108 | Implantable Medical Device with a Primary and Rechargeable Battery - An implantable medical device (IMD) having a rechargeable and primary battery is disclosed, as are algorithms for automatically selecting use of these batteries at particular times. In one IMD embodiment, the primary battery acts as the main battery, and an algorithm allows the IMD to draw power from the primary battery until its voltage reaches a threshold, after which the algorithm allows the IMD to draw power from the rechargeable battery when it is sufficiently charged. In another IMD embodiment, the rechargeable battery acts as the main battery, and an algorithm allows the IMD to draw power from the rechargeable battery if it is sufficiently charged; otherwise, the algorithm allows the IMD to draw power from the primary battery. Further disclosed are techniques for telemetering data relevant to both batteries to an external device, and for allowing a patient to choose use of a particular one of the batteries. | 04-09-2015 |
20150100109 | Implantable Medical Device with One or More Magnetic Field Sensors to Assist with External Charger Alignment - An implantable medical device (IMD) is disclosed having one or more magnetic field sensors for measuring a strength of a magnetic charging field provided by an external charger and used to provide operational power to the IMD, for example, to charge its battery. The measured field strength data, or derivations of such data, are telemetered to the external charger, which further process the received data if necessary and can inform a user whether alignment between the external charger and IMD is sufficient, a misalignment direction, and/or a misalignment distance, so that the user can attempt to improve the alignment of the external charger. The one or more sensors are preferably placed at or equidistantly around a center axis of the IMD's charging coil. However, the sensors may be placed at any number of locations in the IPG, and at different distances from the center axis. | 04-09-2015 |
20150105842 | Power Supply Disconnect Current Measurement for an Implantable Medical Device - An implantable medical device (IMD) is disclosed having measurement circuitry for measuring one or more currents in the IMD, such as the currents drawn from various power supply voltages. Such currents are measured without disrupting normal IMD operation, and can be telemetered from the IMD for review. Switching circuitry in line with the current being measured is temporarily opened for a time period to disconnect the power supply voltage from the circuitry being powered. A voltage across a capacitance in parallel with the circuitry is measured when the switching circuitry is opened and again closed at the end of the time period, with the circuitry drawing power from the charged capacitance during this time period. The average current drawn by the power supply voltage is determined using the difference in the measured voltages, the known capacitance, and the time period between the measurements. | 04-16-2015 |
20150127068 | NERVE STIMULATOR SYSTEM - Devices, systems and methods for applying electrical impulse(s) to one or more selected nerves are described. An electrical stimulator is introduced through a to a target location within, adjacent to, or in close proximity with, the carotid sheath. The stimulator has an antenna that allows it to be powered solely by far-field or approximately plane wave electromagnetic radiation, having frequencies in the range of 0.3 to 10 GHz. Electrical impulses are applied through the stimulator to a vagus nerve to stimulate, block or otherwise modulate activity of the nerve and treat the patient's condition. The stimulator uses an adjustable number of fixed voltage (or fixed current) pulses with fixed duration to elicit desired changes in nerve response, the timing of which are controlled by an external power transmitter and controller. | 05-07-2015 |
20150134029 | Orientation and Placement of Inductive Components to Minimize Noise Coupling to a Communication Coil in an Implantable Medical Device - Preferred orientations and placements of an inductor relative to a communication coil in an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) are disclosed. The inductor can comprise part of a boost converter used to generate a power supply voltage in the IMD, which inductor may interfere with the coil. The inductor may have a length defined by its windings around an axis, which axis may be in a plane of the coil or in a plane parallel to the coil. The inductor can be included within the area extent of the coil, and is preferably oriented such that its axis is parallel to a maximum dimension of the coil. Ends of the inductor are further preferably equidistant from the coil. So oriented and placed, the inductor is less prone to interfering with the coil, thus improving communications with the IMD. | 05-14-2015 |
20150142081 | IMPLANT CHARGING FIELD CONTROL THROUGH RADIO LINK - A charger that evaluates the effectiveness of the charging field generated by the charger at an implantable device. The charger includes a charging coil, a communication module, and a processor. The processor can include instructions to determine the effectiveness of the charging field based on one or several signals or communications received from the implantable device. The charger can use the determination of the effectiveness of the charging field to vary the strength of the charging field and/or to prompt the user to move the charger with respect to the implantable device. | 05-21-2015 |
20150148868 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATION SESSION BETWEEN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND AN EXTERNAL DEVICE - A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The IMD periodically transmitting advertisement notices over the dedicated advertisement channel according to the protocol. The advertisement notices being transmitted periodically at an advertisement period over multiple cycles. The method further includes repeatedly scanning the advertisement channel, by the external device, for select scanning intervals in search of the advertisement notices, the scanning operation being repeated periodically at a scan period over the multiple cycles. The advertisement period and the scan period are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD. | 05-28-2015 |
20150290464 | Method and means for connecting and telecontrolling a large number of electrodes for electrical cell stimulation in living organisms - A system for neural and muscular stimulation, including DBS, cortical and muscle stimulation, heart pacemakers and similar applications. The improvement of our invention over prior art consisting of the possibility of a larger number of electrode pads from where to originate the electrical stimulation for better control of the process. Our invention discloses a system of address wires which controls switches and demultiplexers to select one of a plurality of wires and one of a plurality of electrode pads from where the electric stimulation starts, and latches that maintain some selected choices after the address buses go on to select other wires and other electrode tips. Our invention also discloses time delay lines which are used to keep the stimulating pulses for a pre-assigned time. Finally, our invention discloses telecontrol to select the active electrodes. | 10-15-2015 |
20150297900 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CONNECTING IMPLANTABLE DEVICES TO WIRELESS ENERGY - A device for providing an implantable lead with wireless energy, the device including: a housing configured for implantation in a patient's body; one or more non-inductive antennas substantially enclosed within the housing and configured to receive electromagnetic energy radiated from a source located outside of the patient's body; electronic circuitry coupled to each of the one or more non-inductive antennas and configured to extract electric power and excitation waveforms from the radiated electromagnetic energy as received by the one or more non-inductive antennas; and one or more connection pads substantially enclosed within the housing, wherein the connection pads are configured to couple with one or more electrodes in the implantable lead and form an electric connection over which the connection pads provide the extracted excitation waveforms from the electronic circuit to the electrodes in the implantable lead, the implantable lead being separate from the device. | 10-22-2015 |
20150306395 | NEUROSTIMULATION AND RECORDING OF PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC CARDIAC DYSFUNCTION - Systems and methods are provided for delivering neurostimulation therapies to patients for treating chronic heart failure. A neural fulcrum zone is identified and ongoing neurostimulation therapy is delivered within the neural fulcrum zone. The implanted stimulation device includes a physiological sensor for recording the patient's response to the neurostimulation therapy on an ambulatory basis over extended periods of time. | 10-29-2015 |
20150321006 | Methods and Systems for Treating Cardiovascular Disease Using an Implantable Electroacupuncture Device - An exemplary method treating a cardiovascular disease in a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to a median nerve of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein the duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4, each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes, and the electroacupuncture device comprises a central electrode of a first polarity and an annular electrode of a second polarity and that is spaced apart from the central electrode; and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device, the stimulation sessions to the median nerve by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode in accordance with the duty cycle. | 11-12-2015 |
20150341785 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A SECURED CONNECTION BETWEEN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND AN EXTERNAL DEVICE - A system and method are provided for initiating a secured bi-directional communication session with an implantable medical device. The system and method include configuring a pulse generator (PG) device and an external device to establish a communication link there between through a wireless protocol with a defined bonding procedure. The system and method also include transmitting a static identification and dynamic seed from the PG device through a dedicated advertisement channel to the external device and generating a passkey from a pre-defined algorithm based on the dynamic seed and a static identification. Further, the system and method include starting the defined bonding procedure. | 11-26-2015 |
20150360030 | Transcutaneous Electrostimulator and Methods for Electric Stimulation - A transcutaneous electrostimulation device includes an electrostimulation generator providing at an output a nerve electro stimulation signal, an electronic signal conduit conductively connected to the output of the generator, and an electrode coupler shaped to form fit an ear canal of a human ear and having at least one electrostimulation electrode. The electrode is conductively connected to the electronic signal conduit to receive the nerve electrostimulation signal and is positioned at the electrode coupler to contact tissue within an ear canal and apply the nerve electrostimulation signal to the tissue transcutaneously. An audio source outputs audio signals. The electrode coupler has a speaker receiving the audio signals for output into the ear canal when the electrode coupler is worn. The generator sends the nerve electrostimulation signal to the electrode coupler while the audio signals are output. The generator modulates the nerve electrostimulation signal based upon the audio signals. | 12-17-2015 |
20160001085 | METHOD FOR MONITORING POWER SUPPLY TO IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An external control device includes a human-computer interface, a first controller and a power transmitting unit. An implantable medical device includes a power receiving unit, a second controller and a second detector. A method for monitoring power supply comprises: producing a first magnetic field by the power transmitting unit; sensing the first magnetic field to produce a second magnetic field and converting it into a direct current by the power receiving unit; detecting a power value of the direct current by the second detector to output a detection signal to the second controller; outputting a status information to the external control device by the second controller according to the detection signal; and receiving the status information by the first controller. The first controller transmits an adjustment signal to the power transmitting unit if informed of the status information that the power value is not within a designate power range. | 01-07-2016 |
20160001087 | NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM WITH FLEXIBLE PATTERNING AND WAVEFORMS - A neurostimulation system configured for providing neurostimulation therapy to a patient. A user customizes a pulse pattern on a pulse-by-pulse basis. Electrical stimulation energy is delivered to at least one electrode in accordance with the customized pulse pattern. | 01-07-2016 |
20160008597 | WIRELESS ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEM | 01-14-2016 |
20160023005 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING UROLOGICAL DISORDERS - Some implementations provide a method for treating urological disorders in a patient, the method including: placing an introducer into a patient's body through an incision site on the patient's body, the patient suffering from an urological disorder; placing an implantable wireless device into an inner lumen of the introducer, the implantable wireless device suitable to fit into the inner lumen and configured to receive electromagnetic energy non-inductively from a source located outside the patient's body; through the inner lumen of the introducer, positioning the implantable wireless device adjacent to or near one or more excitable tissue in the patient, the one or more excitable tissue regulating a nerve activity associated with the urological disorder; and causing neural modulation of the one or more excitable tissue through one or more electrodes on the implantable wireless device. | 01-28-2016 |
20160023007 | Rotating Field Inductive Data Telemetry and Power Transfer in an Implantable Medical Device System - An improved implantable medical device system having dual coils in one of the devices in the system is disclosed. The dual coils are used preferably in an external device such as an external controller or an external charger. The dual coils are wrapped around axes that are preferably orthogonal, although other non-zero angles could be used as well. When used to transmit, the two coils are driven (for example, with FSK-modulated data when the transmitting data) out of phase, preferably at 90 degrees out of phase. This produces a magnetic field which rotates, and which reduces nulls in the coupling between the external device and the receiving coil within the implanted device. Moreover, implementation of the dual coils to transmit requires no change in the receiver circuitry of the implanted device. Should the device with dual coils also receive transmissions from the other device (e.g., the implanted device), the two coils are used in conjunction with optional receiver circuitry which likewise phase shifts the received modulated data signals from each coil and presents their sum to typical demodulation circuitry. | 01-28-2016 |
20160023008 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONIZING STIMULATION DATA - An electrical stimulation system includes an implantable control module for implantation in a body of a patient. The control module includes an antenna and a processor coupled to the antenna. The control module can provide electrical stimulation signals to an electrical stimulation lead coupled to the implantable control module for stimulation of patient tissue. The system also includes a first external programming unit to communicate with the processor of the implantable control module using the antenna and to provide or update stimulation parameters for production of the electrical stimulation signals. The first external programming unit also communicates with a data storage unit remote from the first external programming unit and the implantable control module to store the stimulation parameters at the data storage unit and retrieve the stimulation parameters from the data storage unit. Optionally, the system also includes the data storage unit. | 01-28-2016 |
20160030755 | Implantable Medical Device with Multi-Function Single Coil - A combination charging and telemetry circuit for use within an implantable device, such as a microstimulator, uses a single coil for both charging and telemetry. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, one or more capacitors are used to tune the single coil to different frequencies, wherein the coil is used for multiple purposes, e.g., for receiving power from an external source and also for the telemetry of information to and from an external source. | 02-04-2016 |
20160030756 | Energy Efficient Resonant Driving Circuit for Magnetically Coupled Interaction with an Implantable Medical Device - A driving circuit useful in a magnetic inductive coupling wireless communication system is disclosed. The circuit includes an inductor (coil; L) and capacitor (C) in series selectively coupled to a power source such as a rechargeable battery. The LC circuit is made to resonate in accordance with a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) or other protocol. Such resonance produces a voltage across the inductor. This voltage is used to create a first voltage either by tapping into the coil, or by providing a transformer. The first voltage is coupled to the rechargeable battery by a diode. When the circuit resonates, and when the first voltage exceeds the voltage of the power source, the diode turns on, thus shunting excess current back to recharge the rechargeable battery. By use of this circuit, energy is conserved. Additionally, oscillations can be quickly dampened so as to allow the circuit to transmit at high data rates. | 02-04-2016 |
20160038745 | NEURAL STIMULATION DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATMENT OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATION - A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator. | 02-11-2016 |
20160045733 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALTERING BODY MASS COMPOSITION USING GALVANIC VESTIBULAR STIMULATION - A device and method are provided for altering body mass composition in a human subject by applying galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) using electrodes placed in electrical contact with the subject's scalp at a location corresponding to each of the subject's left and right vestibular systems. The current source include a feedback loop for measuring a resistance across the subject's scalp and adjusting a voltage output to maintain a constant current across the subject's scalp. GVS may be applied for a predetermined period of time at regular intervals. | 02-18-2016 |
20160051815 | OLFACTORY IMPLANT SYSTEM - The system includes five components: (1) a sensor array, (2) a processor, (3) a transmitter, (4) a receiver-stimulator, and (5) an implantable electrode array. The olfactory implant system generates odor fingerprints by detecting odors with an array of chemical sensors and then transmitting variable spatio-temporal stimulation patterns for an electrode array with electrode stimulating points positioned at different locations in the olfactory cortex (e.g., stimulating the olfactory bulb). Different patterns of activity in the olfactory cortex are thereby generated which mimic the sense of smell in a subject. Once trained the system should be usable by a subject to detect or correctly identify one or more odors. | 02-25-2016 |
20160051825 | Use of a Dedicated Remote Control as an Intermediary Device to Communicate with an Implantable Medical Device - Systems and methods are disclosed in which an external device such as a consumer mobile device (e.g., smart phone) is used as an external controller to bi-directionally communicate with an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) using a dedicated patient remote control (RC) as an intermediary device to translate communications between the two. The dedicated RC contains a graphical user interface allowing for control and monitoring of the IMD even if the mobile device is not present in the system, which is useful as a back-up should the mobile device experience problems. Use of the dedicated RC as an intermediary device broadens the utility of other computing devices to operate as an external controller for an IMD even if the computing device and IMD do not have compliant communication means. | 02-25-2016 |
20160059016 | LEADLESS NEUROSTIMULATOR - The present disclosure describes a medical device to provide neurostimulation therapy to a patient's brain. The device can be surgically implanted and can remain in the patient until end of life. The present disclosure also describes accessories which guide the implantation of the device, and the components that form a leadless stimulator implantation kit. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059022 | ENERGY ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION FOR MEDICAL DEVICES - System and methods for energy adaptive communications between medical devices are disclosed. In one example, a medical device includes a communication module configured to deliver a plurality of pulses to tissue of a patient, where each pulse has an amount of energy. A control module operatively coupled to the communication module, may be configured to, for each delivered pulse, determine whether the delivered pulse produces an unwanted stimulation of the patient and to change the amount of energy of the plurality of pulses over time so as to identify an amount of energy that corresponds to an unwanted stimulation threshold for the pulses. The control module may then set a maximum energy value for communication pulses that is below the unwanted stimulation threshold, and may deliver communication pulses below the maximum energy value during communication with another medical device. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059029 | TREATMENT APPARATUS WITH A POSITIONING DEVICE AND A STIMULATION DEVICE, AND STIMULATION METHOD - A positioning device ( | 03-03-2016 |
20160067504 | FOLDED ANTENNAS FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - In an example, an apparatus can include an implantable medical device comprising a housing, an implantable telemetry circuit carried within the housing, a dielectric compartment mechanically coupled to the housing, the dielectric compartment including first and second substantially parallel face portions and a third face portion extending between the first and second face portions, and an implantable telemetry antenna, located at least partially within the dielectric compartment. The implantable telemetry circuit can be electrically coupled to the implantable telemetry antenna and configured to wirelessly transfer information electromagnetically using the implantable telemetry antenna. In an example the implantable telemetry antenna comprises a spiral conductor portion extending along the first, second, and third face portions. In an example the spiral conductor includes a cross section having a lateral width that can be greater than a sidewall height of the cross section. | 03-10-2016 |
20160082273 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS PAIRING AND COMMUNICATION FOR ELECTRO-STIMULATION - The disclosure herein is directed toward systems and methods for pairing two or more devices into a wireless network and transferring data between two or more electro-stimulation devices. Specifically, the systems and methods disclosed herein may include pairing two or more devices into a network configuration using, in part, a pairing device to distinctly identify the devices to be paired and to pair the identified devices into a network. Moreover, the systems and methods disclosed herein may include transferring data between two or more devices using, in part, one or more electro-stimulation contacts for electro-stimulation therapy and using, in part, the same one or more electro-stimulation contacts for transferring data between two or more devices. | 03-24-2016 |
20160089543 | OPTIMIZING DATA RETRIEVAL FROM AN ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An external data retrieval apparatus includes a transceiver, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver. The processing system obtains a plurality of measures over a period of time. The measures relate to a quality of a communications channel between the data retrieval apparatus and an active implantable medical device. The processing system determines a trend in the plurality of measures over the period of time, and then determines a preferred time during which to retrieve data based on the trend. | 03-31-2016 |
20160089544 | OPTIMIZING DATA RETRIEVAL FROM AN ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An external data retrieval apparatus includes a transceiver, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver. The processing system obtains a plurality of measures over a period of time. The measures relate to a quality of a communications channel between the data retrieval apparatus and an active implantable medical device. The processing system determines a trend in the plurality of measures over the period of time, and then determines a preferred time during which to retrieve data based on the trend. | 03-31-2016 |
20160096025 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION USING FEEDBACK TO ADJUST STIMULATION PARAMETERS - An electrical stimulation system includes a control module that provides electrical stimulation signals to an electrical stimulation lead coupled to the control module for stimulation of patient tissue. The system also includes a sensor to be disposed on or within the body of the patient and to measure a biosignal; and a processor to communicate with the sensor to receive the biosignal and to generate an adjustment to one or more of the stimulation parameters based on the biosignal. The adjustment can be configured and arranged to steer the electrical stimulation signals to stimulate a region of the patient tissue that is different, at least in part, from a region of the patient tissue stimulated prior to the adjustment. Alternatively or additionally, the biosignal is indicative of a particular patient activity and the adjustment is a pre-determined adjustment selected for the particular patient activity. | 04-07-2016 |
20160096027 | WIRELESS DELIVERY OF TRANSCUTANEAOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS) TREATMENTS - A method and system for performing transcutaneaous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) via a portable mobile device. The TENS system includes a wireless radio, a microcontroller, and a switch. The wireless radio is compliant with a wireless networking standard, and is configured to wirelessly receive, in accordance with the wireless networking standard, instructions derived from a first treatment plan selected from one or more treatment plans, wherein each treatment plan of the one or more treatment plans respectively specifies characteristics of an electrical current including a desired pulse and timing associated with the treatment plan. The microcontroller is configured to process the instructions derived from the first treatment plan, and output settings specific to the processed instructions. The switch is configured to, based on the settings specific to the processed instructions, deliver the electric current to the patient at the desired pulse and timing as specified by the first treatment plan. | 04-07-2016 |
20160096028 | External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device System Having a Coil for Communication and Charging - Disclosed in an improved medical implantable device system including an improved external charger that is able to communicate with an external controller and IPG using the communication protocol (e.g., FSK) used to implement communications between the external controller and the implant. The external controller as modified uses its charging coil to charge the implant, and also to communicate with the other devices in the system. As such, the external charger is provided with transceiver circuitry operating in accordance with the protocol, and also includes tuning circuitry to tune the coil as necessary for communications or charging. Communication or charging access to the charging coil in the external charger is time multiplexed. The disclosed system allows charging information to be provided to the user interface of the external controller so that it can be reviewed by the user, who may take corrective action if necessary. Also disclosed are schemes for synchronizing and arbitrating communications between the devices in the system. | 04-07-2016 |
20160114176 | LOCAL LEAD TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN IMPLANTABLE WIRELESS ACOUSTIC STIMULATORS - A wireless cardiac stimulation device is disclosed comprising a controller-transmitter, a receiver, and a stimulating electrode, wherein the stimulating electrode and the receiver are separately implantable at cardiac tissue locations of the heart and are connected by a local lead. Having separately implantable receiver and stimulating electrodes improves the efficiency of ultrasound mediated wireless stimulation by allowing the receiver to be placed optimally for reception efficiency, thereby resulting in longer battery life, and by allowing the stimulating electrode to be placed optimally for stimulus delivery. Another advantage is a reduced risk of embolization, since the receiver and stimulating electrode ensemble is attached at two locations of the heart wall, with the connecting local leads serving as a safety tether should either the receiver or the stimulating electrode become dislodged. | 04-28-2016 |
20160121115 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF NEURAL TISSUE - Disclosed herein are various embodiments of electrical stimulation systems configured to stimulate tissue in a subject. The system may include a controller configured to send at least one stimulation pattern to be implemented by the electrical stimulation system. The controller may include a first digital control interface. The system may also include a stimulation module that includes a second digital control interface configured to be in electrical communication with the first digital control interface. The stimulation circuitry may be configured to implement the at least one stimulation pattern as an analog stimulation signal based on an ongoing stream of digital commands received from the controller. The system may further comprise a percutaneous connector assembly configured to be coupled to a subject through the subject's skin. The percutaneous connector may include a second connector configured to couple to the first connector and a first electrode lead. | 05-05-2016 |
20160129269 | Selectable Boost Converter and Charge Pump for Compliance Voltage Generation in an Implantable Stimulator Device - Compliance voltage generation circuitry for a medical device is disclosed. The circuitry in one embodiment comprises a boost converter and a charge pump, either of which is capable of generating an appropriate compliance voltage from the voltage of the battery in the device. A boost signal from compliance voltage monitor-and-adjust logic circuitry is processed with a telemetry enable signal to selectively enable either the charge pump or the boost converter: if the telemetry enable signal is not active, the boost converter is used to generate the compliance voltage; if the telemetry enable signal is active, the charge pump is used. Because the charge pump circuitry does not produce a magnetic field, the charge pump will not interfere with magnetically-coupled telemetry between the implant and an external controller. By contrast, the boost converter is allowed to operate during periods of no telemetry, when magnetic interference is not a concern. | 05-12-2016 |
20160129270 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLINICIAN CONTROL OF STIMULATION SYSTEMS - Systems and methods for programming and logging medical device and patient data are provided. The systems include a handheld device, which is capable of communicating with a medical device, and a base station, which provides connectivity for the handheld device to accomplish various functions such as recharging, programming, data back-up and data entry. The methods comprise the steps of detecting a medical device, obtaining and recording information from the medical device. Additionally, medical device parameters may be modified and the recorded information may be archived for future reference. | 05-12-2016 |
20160129271 | Server for Communication with an Implantable Medical Device - A system and method for modifying the parameters of an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device that communicates with a remote control device that, in turn, communicates through the browser of a computer or any other device capable of using mark-up language protocol. The computer optionally communicates with other computers and/or devices through a network. | 05-12-2016 |
20160136437 | External Controller/Charger System for an Implantable Medical Device Capable of Automatically Providing Data Telemetry Through a Charging Coil During a Charging Session - An external controller/charger system for an implantable medical device is disclosed, in which the external controller/charger system provides automatic switching between telemetry and charging without any manual intervention by the patient. The external controller/charger system includes an external controller which houses a telemetry coil and an external charging coil coupled to the external controller. Normally, a charging session is carried out using the external charging coil, and a telemetry session is carried out using the telemetry coil. However, when a patient requests to carry out telemetry during a charging session, the external charging coil is used instead of the internal telemetry coil. | 05-19-2016 |
20160136438 | Wearable Antenna Assembly - A wearable device for facilitating neurophysiological treatment of a patient harboring an implanted neural stimulator is provided. The wearable device includes a transmitting antenna configured to accept one or more input signals and to transmit one or more electromagnetic signals to a neural stimulator that is implanted in a patient's body. The wearable device further includes a control circuitry configured to provide the one or more input signals to the transmitting antenna. The wearable device further includes a battery that provides electrical power to at least the control circuitry. The wearable device is configured to be worn outside the patient's body. | 05-19-2016 |
20160136439 | RELAY MODULE FOR IMPLANT - An implementation provides a system that includes: a control module including a first antenna, the control module configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) signal and transmit the first RF signal using the first antenna; an implantable lead module including a second antenna and at least one electrode configured to stimulate excitable tissue of a subject; and a relay module configured to receive the first RF signal; generate a second RF signal based on the first RF signal, the second RF signal encoding a stimulus waveform to be applied by the at least one electrodes of the implantable lead module to stimulate the excitable tissue of the subject; and transmit the second RF signal to the implantable lead module. | 05-19-2016 |
20160136443 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL STIMULATION THERAPY FEEDBACK - A system for storing stimulation programs or sets of stimulation parameters includes at least one memory; at least one of i) multiple stimulation programs or ii) a multiple sets of stimulation parameters stored on the at least one memory from multiple different devices remote from the system and used to stimulate different patients; at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory to retrieve the stored stimulation programs or sets of stimulation parameters from the at least one memory when requested and to store additional stimulation programs or sets of stimulation parameters on the at least one memory; and a communications arrangement coupled to the at least one processor to deliver the stored stimulation programs or sets of stimulation parameters to external device and to receive additional stimulation programs and sets of stimulation parameters from external devices. | 05-19-2016 |
20160144167 | DISTURBING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) IMAGES USING IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - In one example, a method includes delivering, via one or more stimulation generators of a medical device implanted in a patient, electrical stimulation to the patient. In this example, the method also includes disturbing, by one or more components of the medical device, an image of the patient generated by a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scanner. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144180 | NERVE STIMULATOR SYSTEM - Devices, systems and methods for treating at least one of a condition or a symptom of a patient by positioning a stimulation device at a target site adjacent to or near a nerve within a patient. The stimulation device comprising an antenna and one or more electrodes. Transmitting electrical energy to the antenna and generating electrical impulses within the stimulation device with the electrical energy and applying the series of electrical impulses to the nerve via the electrode. The electrical impulses sufficient to modulate the nerve and treat the condition or symptom of the patient; and which have on periods where the electrical impulses are generated and applied to the nerve and off periods between the electrical impulses, where the electrical energy is transmitted to the antenna. | 05-26-2016 |
20160158563 | Systems and Methods for Providing Non-Invasive Neurorehabilitation of a Patient - A system for providing non-invasive neuromodulation to a patient includes a mouthpiece and a controller. The mouthpiece includes an elongated housing, a printed circuit board, control circuitry mounted within the elongated housing, and a cable for connecting to a controller. The controller includes an elongated u-shaped element, an electronic receptacle, and a microcontroller. A method for providing non-invasive neurorehabilitation of a patient including connecting a mouthpiece to a controller, transmitting a numeric sequence to the mouthpiece, generating a first hash code, transmitting the first hash code to the controller, generating a second hash code, comparing the second hash code with the first hash code, enabling electrical communication between the mouthpiece and the controller only if the first hash code matches the second hash code, contacting the mouthpiece with the patient's intraoral cavity, and delivering neurostimulation to the patient's intraoral cavity. | 06-09-2016 |
20160184597 | ANTENNA ASSEMBLY - An antenna assembly includes a metal layer configured to emit linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to a receiving antenna implanted underneath a subject's skin; and a feed port configured to connect the antenna assembly to a signal generator such that the antenna assembly receives an input signal from the signal generator and then transmits the input signal to the receiving dipole antenna, wherein the antenna assembly is less than 200 um in thickness, and wherein the metal layer is operable as a dipole antenna with a reflection ratio of at least 6 dB, the reflection ratio corresponding to a ratio of a transmission power of the antenna assembly in transmitting the input signal and a reflection power seen by the antenna assembly resulting from electromagnetic emission of the input signal. | 06-30-2016 |
20160190698 | PATCH ANTENNA ASSEMBLY - A patch antenna assembly that includes a signal metal layer configured to emit linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to a receiving antenna implanted up to 12 cm underneath a subject's skin; a signal metal layer substrate on which the signal metal layer substrate is positioned; a ground plane located next to the signal metal layer substrate and further away from the subject's skin; a microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer substrate located next to the ground plane; and a microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer next to the microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer substrate, the microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer comprising: a capacitance adjustment pad configured to adjust a resonant frequency of the patch antenna assembly; and a microstrip attached to the capacitance adjustment pad and configured to induce the emitted electromagnetic energy to be linearly polarized along a longitudinal direction of the microstrip. | 06-30-2016 |
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