Optimizing energy transmission in a leadless tissue stimulation system
Inventors
Willis, N. Parker • Brisken, Axel F. • Cowan, Mark W. • Pare, Michael • Fowler, Robert • Brennan, James
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11452879-B2
Publication Date
2022-09-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
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.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to locating an acoustic receiver-stimulator in tissue and transmitting focused acoustic energy based on that location. It transmits focused acoustic energy to a tissue location, receives the focused acoustic energy at the receiver-stimulator, converts the focused acoustic energy into electrical energy, and delivers the electrical energy to tissue.
The controller-transmitter then detects delivered electrical energy via electrodes to determine whether the receiver-stimulator is present at the tissue location. In the locator approach, detecting an electrical spike indicative of the delivered electrical energy is used to determine whether the receiver-stimulator is present at the tissue location, and sequentially steering focused acoustic energy toward individual tissue locations continues until delivered electrical energy is detected.
An additional aspect transmits an acoustic locator signal into tissue to generate an electrical location signal using an acoustic receiver implanted in the tissue. The electrical location signal is transmitted into the tissue and detected via one or more electrodes of an acoustic transmitter electrically connected to the tissue, after which focused acoustic energy is transmitted toward the tissue region associated with the detected electrical location signal.
The focusing is achieved by adjusting a transducer array based on a characteristic of the electrical location signal, where the characteristic includes at least one of frequency, duration, amplitude, phase, and time of flight.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include six inventive features covering locating an acoustic receiver-stimulator by delivering and detecting electrical energy, spike-based presence detection, determining focus using electrode-detected delivered electrical energy, and transmitting focused acoustic energy toward a tissue region associated with a detected electrical location signal, including transducer array adjustment based on signal characteristics.
Locating receiver-stimulator by electrical energy detection
Transmitting, via a controller-transmitter, focused acoustic energy to a tissue location; receiving, at the receiver-stimulator, the focused acoustic energy; converting, via the receiver-stimulator, the focused acoustic energy into electrical energy; delivering, via the receiver-stimulator, the electrical energy to tissue; and detecting, via one or more electrodes of the controller-transmitter that are electrically connected to the tissue, the delivered electrical energy to determine whether the receiver-stimulator is present at the tissue location.
Spike detector presence indication
Transmitting, via a controller-transmitter, focused acoustic energy to a tissue location; receiving, at the receiver-stimulator, the focused acoustic energy; converting, via the receiver-stimulator, the focused acoustic energy into electrical energy; delivering, via the receiver-stimulator, the electrical energy to tissue; and detecting, via a spike detector of the controller-transmitter, an electrical spike indicative of the delivered electrical energy to determine whether the receiver-stimulator is present at the tissue location.
Determining focus using electrode-detected delivered electrical energy
Transmitting acoustic energy into a region of the body; receiving the acoustic energy at an acoustic receiver located in the region of the body; converting the acoustic energy into electrical energy; delivering the electrical energy into the region of the body; and detecting the delivered electrical energy via one or more electrodes of an acoustic transmitter that are in contact with the body to determine whether the transmitted acoustic energy is focused on the acoustic receiver.
Electrical location signal-guided focused transmission
Transmitting an acoustic locator signal into the tissue; receiving the acoustic locator signal at an acoustic receiver implanted in the tissue; generating an electrical location signal; transmitting the electrical location signal into the tissue; detecting the electrical location signal via one or more electrodes of an acoustic transmitter that are electrically connected to the tissue; and transmitting focused acoustic energy toward a region of the tissue associated with the detected electrical location signal.
Transducer array focusing based on location-signal characteristics
Transmitting an acoustic locator signal into the tissue; receiving the acoustic locator signal at an acoustic receiver implanted in the tissue; generating an electrical location signal; transmitting the electrical location signal into the tissue; detecting the electrical location signal; and transmitting focused acoustic energy toward a region of the tissue associated with the detected electrical location signal, where transmitting the focused acoustic energy toward the region includes adjusting a transducer array to transmit the focused acoustic energy based on a characteristic of the electrical location signal, and where the characteristic is at least one of a frequency, duration, amplitude, phase, and time of flight of the electrical location signal.
Electrical spike-based location signal detection for focused transmission
Transmitting an acoustic locator signal into the tissue; receiving the acoustic locator signal at an acoustic receiver implanted in the tissue; generating an electrical location signal; transmitting the electrical location signal into the tissue; detecting the electrical location signal by detecting an electrical spike at one or more electrodes electrically connected to the tissue; and transmitting focused acoustic energy toward a region of the tissue associated with the detected electrical location signal.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the use of delivered electrical energy or electrical spikes detected at electrodes of the controller-transmitter or acoustic transmitter to determine the presence or focus relative to an implanted acoustic receiver-stimulator, and the subsequent transmission of focused acoustic energy toward a tissue region associated with the detected electrical location signal, including transducer array adjustment based on location-signal characteristics such as frequency, duration, amplitude, phase, and time of flight.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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