Method and apparatus for communicating with implanted body function stimulator

In apparatus for varying the operating parameters of a body implantable device by non-invasively coupling an externally generated control signal to electronic circuitry within said device and deriving a binary control word for varying said operating parameters, improved apparatus for preventing inadvertent variation of said operating parameters, comprising:

• means for deriving a first binary word functionally equivalent to a first externally generated control signal,
• means for deriving a second binary word functionally equivalent to a second externally generated control signal,
• said first and second externally generated control signals each functionally related to a same set of selected operating parameters,
• means for serially comparing said first and second binary words to verify equivalence, and
• electronic circuitry for transferring said verified binary control word to a command register for altering said operating parameters.

Apparatus for commanding a body function stimulating device adapted for body implantation, comprising:

• means for generating an electrical command signal functionally related to selected operating parameters for said stimulating device;
• means for converting said electrical command signal to an equivalent train of current pulse pairs having first or second temporal relationships and each pulse having at least one sharp edge shape;
• a first coil means responsive to said current pulse pairs generating magnetic fields having a peak rate of change of intensity defined by said at least sharp edge shape of each said pulse;
• a second coil means electrically connected to said stimulating device detecting at least said peak rate of change of intensity portions of said magnetic fields and producing corresponding pairs of voltage output pulses having said first or second temporal relationship;
• means for processing said pairs of voltage output pulses to reproduce said electrical command signal within said stimulating device.

A method for commanding a body function stimulating device adapted for body implanatation, comprising the steps of:

• generating an electrical command signal functionally related to selected operating parameters for said stimulating device;
• converting said electrical command signal to an equivalent train of current pulse pairs having first or second temporal relationships and each pulse having at least one sharp edge shape;
• generating magnetic fields in response to said current pulse pairs having a peak rate of change of intensity defined by said at least one sharp edge shape of each said pulse;
• detecting within said stimulating device at least said peak rate of change of intensity portions of said magnetic fields and producing corresponding pairs of voltage output pulses having said first or second temporal relationship;
• processing said pairs of voltage output pulses to reproduce said electrical command signal within said stimulating device.

In apparatus for varying the operating parameters of a body function stimulating device adapted for body implantation by non-invasively coupling an externally generated control signal to electronic circuitry within said implantable device and deriving a control signal for varying said parameters, improved apparatus for transmitting said control signal, comprising:

• means for generating an electrical command signal functionally related to selected operating parameters for said stimulating device;
• means for converting said electrical command signal to an equivalent train of current pulse pairs having first or second temporal relationships, said first temporal relationship corresponding to a first binary state and said second temporal relationship corresponding to a second binary state;
• means for generating an output functionally related to said pulse pairs;
• means for detecting said output and producing corresponding pairs of voltage output pulses having said first and second temporal relationship;
• and
• means for processing said pairs of voltage output pulses to reproduce said electrical command signal within said stimulating device.

In a method for varying the operating parameters of a body function stimulating device adapted for body implantation by non-invasively coupling an externally generated control signal to electronic circuitry within said implantable device and deriving a control signal for varying said parameters, an improved method for generating said command signal, comprising the steps of:

• generating an electrical command signal functionally related to selected operating parameters for said stimulating device;
• converting said electrical command signal to an equivalent train of current pulse pairs having first or second temporal relationships, said first temporal relationship corresponding to a first binary state and said second temporal relationship corresponding to a second binary state;
• generating an output functionally related to said pulse pairs;
• detecting said output;
• producing corresponding pairs of voltage output pulses having said first or second temporal relationship;
• and
• processing said pairs of voltage output pulses to reproduce said electrical command signal within said stimulating device.

A system for communicating parameter control information from a control device to a body implantable device, comprising:

• select means of said control device for defining parameter control information;
• coding means of said control device for generating binary coded pulse position modulated signals representative of said defined parameter control information;
• and
• transmitter means of said control device for transmitting said binary coded pulse position modulated signals to said body implantable device;
• receiving means of said body implantable device for receiving said binary coded pulse position modulated signals and decoding said signals to derive said parameter control information, and operating means of said body implantable device for applying said derived parameter control information to operate the device.

A system for communicating parameter control information to a body stimulation device implanted in the body, comprising:

• transmitter means outside the body for transmitting binary coded pulse position modulated electromagnetic signals representative of selected parameter control information;
• means of said body stimulation device for receiving said electromagnetic signals and decoding the signals to derive at least one binary coded word representative of said selected parameter control information;
• means of said body stimulation device for verifying the validity of said at least one binary word;
• and
• means of said body stimulation device for applying the verified binary coded word to set at least one operating parameter of the body stimulation device.

A system for communicating selected parameter control information from a control device to a body implatable device, comprising:

• transmitter means of said control device for generating electromagnetic pulses spaced at intervals representative of binary bits which define said selected parameter control information;
• receiving means of said body implantable device for detecting said electromagnetic pulses and generating derived pulses having widths corresponding to the intervals between the electromagnetic pulses;
• means of said body implantable device for converting the pulse widths of the derived pulses to binary logic signals representative of said selected parameter control information;
• and
• means of said body implantable device for applying the binary logic signals to control selected parameters of the implantable device.

A system for communicating selected parameter control information from a control device to a body implantable device, comprising:

• coding means of said control device for generating current pulses having edges spaced at intervals representative of selected parameter control information;
• and transmitting coil means of said control device for transmitting an output signal for each of the spaced edges of said current pulses,
• said body implantable device including,
• receiving coil means for detecting each of said output signals and generating a corresponding input signal,
• means for decoding the intervals between input signals to derive control signals representative of said selected parameter control information, and
• means for applying said control signals to control the operation of said implantable device.

A system for communicating selected parameter control information from a control device to a body implantable device, comprising:

• coding means of said control device for generating signals having trailing edges spaced at intervals representative of said selected parameter control information;
• a transmitter coil of said control device for transmitting an electromagnetic pulse for each of said trailing edges;
• a receiver coil of said control device for sensing said electromagnetic pulses and generating corresponding voltage pulses;
• and
• means of said body implantable device responsive to the intervals between said voltage pulses for deriving the selected parameter control information and applying the information to control the implantable device.

A body implantable device, comprising:

• means for receiving binary coded pulse position modulated signals representative of parameter control information;
• means for decoding said binary coded pulse position modulated signals to derive said parameter control information;
• and
• means for applying said parameter control information to set operating parameters of said body implantable device.