Wireless implantable data communication system, method and sensing device

Inventors

Popovic, Milos R. • Tarulli, Massimo • Prodic, Aleksandar • Huerta Olivares, Santa Concepcion

Assignees

MYNDTEC Inc

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a wireless implantable communication system, method and sensing device, wherein an implantable data conversion module is adapted for operative coupling to a distinct or integrated implantable sensing device for the conversion of a characteristic signal for transmission thereof to an external receiver, e.g. by way of an inductive element. Upon positioning an external inductive element in the vicinity of the implanted device, a corresponding signal is induced within the external element allowing for reconstruction of the converted signal, and thereby allowing for recovery of the characteristic signal. Embodiments for the communication of data across a biological barrier, including communications from an external transmitter to an implanted receiver, an implanted transmitter to an external receiver, and an implanted transmitter/receiver pair are also disclosed.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a wireless implantable communication system for communicating data across a biological barrier. The system includes an implantable device suitable for implantation in a body that generates a characteristic signal representative of an internal characteristic of the body using a sensing device. The characteristic signal is converted into an encoded signal defined by successive width-encoded pulses representative of the characteristic signal.

Each width-encoded pulse comprises a substantially square wave signal having a rise, a substantially constant value, and a fall. The encoded signal is propagated through an implantable inductor. An external receiving device includes an external inductor disposed at a distance from the implantable inductor for operative magnetic coupling, where each said rise and fall of the successive width-encoded pulses induces corresponding signal pulses through the external inductor.

The invention reconstructs the encoded signal at the external receiving device by reconstructing each said rise and fall of the encoded signal from corresponding positive and negative pulses to recover the characteristic signal and thereby monitor the internal characteristic. Given positive and negative pulses induced by a given width-encoded pulse are separated by a substantially flat signal. Two or more implantable sensing devices are supported, where their respective characteristic signals are converted to the successive width-encoded pulses for communication through the implantable inductor.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim includes a sensing device that generates a characteristic signal, an encoder that converts it into successive width-encoded pulses with a substantially square wave rise/constant/fall shape, propagation through an implantable inductor, and external reconstruction using corresponding positive and negative induced pulses separated by a substantially flat signal, with support for two or more implantable sensing devices communicated through the implantable inductor. The inventive features are centered on pulse-width encoded magnetic coupling and rise/fall reconstruction for monitoring the internal characteristic, including multi-sensing communication.

Overall, the claim coverage centers on converting characteristic signals into successive width-encoded substantially square-wave pulses, propagating the encoded signal through an implantable inductor for magnetic coupling, inducing corresponding positive and negative pulses in an external inductor separated by a substantially flat signal, and reconstructing the rise and fall to recover the characteristic signal for monitoring, including communication from two or more implantable sensing devices via the successive width-encoded pulses.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications