Status monitor for anomaly detection in implanted devices and method

A status monitoring system for evaluating the condition of electrodes implanted in the body of a mammal, comprising:

• a modulation device for generating a modulation signal on an electrode, said modulation device being in communication with the electrode,
• a transmitter for generating an interrogation signal,
• a receiver for receiving a reflected signal,
• a microprocessor for controlling the transmitter and the receiver, said microprocessor for comparing known electrode characteristics with said interrogation signal and said received reflected signal thereby producing electrode condition data, and
• a communication system for transmitting said electrode condition data to a remote location, said communication system being in communication with said microprocesor,
• said transmitter generating the interrogation signal on the electrode, the interrogation signal activating the modulation device to generate the modulation signal on the electrode, the modulation signal and the interrogation signal combining and reflecting from the electrode, the reflected signal being received by the receiver, said receiver processing the signal into a form usable by the microprocessor, said microprocessor producing electrode condition data.

A status monitoring system for evaluating electrodes of implanted devices, comprising:

• (a) a modulation device integral to the implanted device for generating a modulation signal on an electrode of an implanted device;
• (b) a monitoring device placed in proximity to a body with an implanted device having an electrode, said monitoring device comprising,
• a microwave transmitter for generating a microwave interrogation signal, said interrogation signal activating the modulation device to generate the modulation signal on the electrode of the implanted device, said interrogation signal combining with said modulation signal on the electrode to produce a modulated interrogation signal, said modulated interrogation signal being reflected by the electrode of the implanted device,
• a receiver for detecting and processing the reflected modulated interrogation signal,
• a microprocessor in communication with the receiver, for analyzing the reflected signal thereby and producing electrode analysis and data;
• and
• a communication system for communicating said electrode analysis and data to a remote location.

A method for evaluating the condition of electrodes implanted in the body of a mammal, comprising the steps:

• (a) generating a modulation signal on an electrode of an implanted device;
• (b) transmitting an interrogation signal to the implanted electrode such that the interrogation signal combines with said modulation signal on the electrode to produce a modulated interrogation signal, said modulated interrogation signal being reflected by the electrode of the implanted device,
• (c) receiving the reflected modulated interrogation signal,
• (d) comparing known electrode characteristics with said interrogation signal and said received signal thereby producing electrode condition data, and
• (e) communicating said electrode condition data to a remote location.