Patent Publication Number: US-2006020303-A1

Title: Medical device telemetry arbitration system using signal strength

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/589,994, filed Jul. 20, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This disclosure relates to medical device transcutaneous communication systems and methods and, more particularly, to a device arbitration system and method for transcutaneous communication with such medical devices.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Implantable medical devices for producing a therapeutic result in a patient are well known. Examples of such implantable medical devices include implantable drug infusion pumps, implantable neurostimulators, implantable cardioverters, implantable cardiac pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and cochlear implants. Some of these devices, if not all, and other devices either provide an electrical output or otherwise contain electrical circuitry to perform their intended function.  
      It is common for implantable medical devices, including implantable medical devices providing an electrical therapeutic output, to utilize transcutaneous telemetry to transfer information to and from the implanted medical device. Information typically transferred to an implanted medical device includes transferring instructions or programs to the implanted medical device from an external device such as an external programmer. Information typically transferred from an implanted medical includes information regarding the status and/or performance of the implanted medical device.  
      As telemetry ranges increase, there is an increasing problem with communicating with multiple devices, as more than one device can be in the telemetry range of a programmer at once. If more than one implanted medical device responds to an identification command, the communication link may fail as uplink responses collide with one another.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In order to efficiently select the desired one of a plurality of implanted medical devices, many or all of which may respond to an identification command issued by an external device, special techniques may be used.  
      In an embodiment, the present invention provides a medical device communication system using an external device being configured to transcutaneously send an identification command to at least one of the plurality of implantable medical devices. The plurality of implantable medical devices are configured to respond to the identification command with an uplink response in one of a plurality of uplink time slots. The external device is configured to receive the uplink response from each of the at least one of the plurality of implanted medical devices. The external device is configured to establish transcutaneous communication with a selected one of the plurality of implanted medical devices based, at least in part, upon a signal strength of the uplink response of at least one of the plurality of implanted medical devices.  
      In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of selecting one of a plurality of implanted medical devices with which to establish transcutaneous communication from an external device associated with at least one of the plurality of medical devices. An identification command is sent from the external device. At least one of the plurality of implanted medical devices responds to the identification command with an uplink response in one of a plurality of uplink time slots. The uplink response from each of the plurality of implanted medical devices is received with the external device. One of the plurality of implanted medical devices to establish transcutaneous communication is selected based, at least in part, upon a signal strength of the uplink response of at least one of the plurality of implanted medical devices.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the external device selects primarily based upon a signal strength of the uplink response of at least one of the plurality of implanted medical devices.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the uplink response having a stronger signal strength is favored.  
      In a preferred embodiment, identification of the plurality of medical devices based, at least in part, on the uplink signal received.  
      In a preferred embodiment, if at least two of the plurality of medical devices respond with the uplink signal in one of the plurality uplink time slots, to instruct known ones of the plurality of medical devices to cease responding to the identification command; and to repeat sending the identification command and to repeat receiving the uplink signal.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the identification command is resent until no two of the plurality of medical devices respond with the uplink signal in one of the plurality of uplink time slots.  
      In a preferred embodiment, known ones of the plurality of medical devices cease responding to the identification command as a result of instructing step for a predetermined period of time.  
      In a preferred embodiment, known ones of the plurality of medical devices cease responding to the identification command as a result of instructing step until instructed otherwise.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the medical device is selected based, at least in part, upon which of the plurality of implanted medical devices are first to respond with the uplink response.  
      In a preferred embodiment, those of the plurality of medical devices receiving the identification command having a relatively strong signal strength respond in a first portion of the plurality of uplink time slots and those of the plurality of medical devices receiving the identification command having a relatively strong signal strength respond in a second portion of the plurality of uplink time slots.  
      In a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of medical devices determines the identification command has a relatively strong signal strength when the signal strength of the identification exceeds a predetermined threshold.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the first portion of the plurality of uplink time slots are earlier in time than the second portion of the plurality of uplink time slots.  
      In a preferred embodiment, a user is instructed to move at least a portion of the external device closer to a selected one of the plurality of implanted medical devices with which the user wishes to establish transcutaneous communication. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a general environmental view  10  for an implantable neurostimulation system (INS) embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an implantable medical device implanted in a patient with an external device for transcutaneous communication with such implanted medical device.  
       FIG. 3  shows an external device for transcutaneous communication with an implanted medical device with two implanted medical devices within range of the external device.  
       FIG. 4  is a timing diagram illustrating timing of issuance of an identification command and response of acknowledgements in a plurality of time slots.  
       FIG. 5  is an exemplary representation of a presentation of alternative medical devices to be presented to a user.  
       FIG. 6  is a timing diagram illustrating timing of issuance of an identification command and response of acknowledgements in a plurality of time slots with issuance of a further silence command and the re-issuance of another identification command. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The following exemplary embodiments are described, for the most part, in the context of a implantable neurostimulator having a rechargeable power source, although use of the various device arbitration system with other implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, implantable cardiac defibrillators, defibrillators, therapeutic agent infusion devices (e.g., drug pumps), is contemplated.  
       FIG. 1  shows a general environmental view  10  for an implantable neurostimulation system (INS) embodiment. Neurostimulation systems are used to treat conditions such as pain, movement disorders, pelvic floor disorders, gastroparesis, and a wide variety of other medical conditions. Neurostimulation system  20  includes a neurostimulator  22 , a stimulation lead extension  30  and a stimulation lead  40 . Neurostimulator  22  is typically implanted subcutaneously in the patient&#39;s body  28  at a location selected by a clinician. Stimulation lead  40  is typically fixed in place near the location selected by the clinician using a well known device such as an adjustable anchor.  
      External device  15  may be used to transcutaneously communicate with implantable neurostimulator  22  as discussed below.  
       FIG. 2  shows an implantable neurostimulator  22 , a stimulation lead  40 , and a lead extension  30 . Implantable neurostimulator  22  has a housing  24 , a power supply carried in housing  24 , and stimulation electronics coupled to the battery and coupled to connector block  26 , which is also known as a terminal block. Stimulation lead  40  has a lead proximal end, a lead distal end and a lead body. The lead proximal end has at least one electrical connector (also known as electrical terminals) and the lead distal end has at least one stimulation electrode. There is at least one lead conductor contained in the lead body that is electrically connecting the electrical connector to the stimulation lead  40 .  
      Neurostimulation system  20  includes an external communication device such as a physician programmer usually operable by a medical practitioner, such as a physician, and/or a patient programmer usually operable by the patient. Neurostimulation system  20  may also include or be used with various other medical devices and computer-based platforms, such as PCs, notebooks, servers, etc.  
      A physician programmer is typically used by a physician, clinician or other medical professional to control or set all available parameters of the implantable medical device and to set parameters and limits under which a patient may be able to control or adjust the implanted medical device.  
      A patient programmer is typically used by a patient, or another person caring for such patient, into whom the implantable medical device has been implanted for control of medical device parameters over which the patient typically has control. As an example, the patient could use the control to turn the implantable medical on or off or to adjust the therapy level or therapy type provided by the implanted medical device within constraints previously set by the physician programmer.  
      It is to be recognized and understood that the present invention may be found useful with other types of external devices, other than specifically physician programmers or patient programmers, in transcutaneous communication with implanted medical devices.  
      An external device typically uses well known wireless communication techniques to transcutaneously communicate with an implanted medical device. Such transcutaneous communication is typically referred to as telemetry. Many well known telemetry techniques are available to provide such transcutaneous communication.  
      A problem may arise, however, when an external device, such as a physician programmer or a patient programmer, attempts to communicate with an implanted medical device in a physical location which is somewhat in the proximity of a second implantable or implanted medical device. Such a situation may occur, for example, if a patient has more than one medical device implanted, if a second patient also having an implanted medical device is nearby, e.g., in an emergency ward or a hospital or other medical setting, or if another implantable medical awaiting implant, for example, is located nearby.  
      In a typical transcutaneous communication situation involving an external device and an implanted medical device, the external device will send a wireless communication request, such as an identification command. An implanted medical will receive the identification request and will send back an acknowledgement, perhaps including information about the implanted medical device. This procedure works well as long as only one implantable or implantable medical device is within wireless range of the communication request. For example, in  FIG. 3 a  first patient has a first neurostimulator  22 A implanted in their body  28 A. A second patient is located nearby, e.g., in an adjacent treatment location in a medical facility. The second patient also has an implanted medical device, in this case neurostimulator  22 B, implanted in their body  28 B. If both neurostimulator  22 A and neurostimulator  22 B operate under the same or similar telemetry protocol, both neurostimulator  22 A and neurostimulator  22 B may respond to the communication request with an acknowledgement. If these acknowledgements occurs at the same time or near in time such as with an overlap in time, then the acknowledgement from neurostimulator  22 A may collide with the acknowledgement from neurostimulator  22 B and cause corruption of communication for both implanted medical devices.  
      Partly for this reason, some delay is designed into the timing of the acknowledgement for an implanted medical device. A reply period may be divided into a plurality of time slots. An individual medical device, such as neurostimulator  22 A or neurostimulator  22 B may reply to the communication request (identification command) in one of the plurality of time slots. This is illustrated schematically in the timing diagram of  FIG. 4  in which time increases from left to right in the diagram. Identification request  50  is sent by external device  15 . In one of a plurality of time slots ( 52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66 ), implanted medical device  15  can respond.  
      If implanted medical device  15  randomly picks one of the plurality of time slots in which to respond, the chance of two or more medical devices responding in the same time slot ( 52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66 ) is reduced. If two or more medical devices do respond in the same time slot, e.g., time slot  52 , then a collision occurs and communication is not established. In this case, external device  15  may reissue an identification command and repeat the process. The probability that the two or more medical devices will again randomly pick the same time slot to respond on consecutive iterations of issuance of identification commands is reduced.  
      However, even if communication is successful on a second or subsequent issuance of an identification command, the establishment of transcutaneous communication is delayed due to the time required to reissue the identification command and to reprocess acknowledgements. Since, in many instances, transcutaneous communication will not or can not occur during the delivery of therapy to the patient, the time periods between therapies, e.g., between electrical stimulation pulses, is in short supply. Thus, increasing the time required to establish transcutaneous communication is significant.  
      Even if two or more medical devices respond in different time slots, external device  15  must still determine which of the medical devices  22  with which to establish communication. This can be done by building a list of medical devices  22  responding to the identification request and allowing a user of the external device  15 , e.g., a physician or the patient, to select the appropriate medical device  22 . For example, a table, list or other presentation of information such as that illustrated in  FIG. 5  could be presented to the user. As examples of information that could be presented in such a presentation, the multiple medical devices  22  identified could be listed by serial number since the serial number could have been included in the acknowledgement sent back to external device  15  by medical device  22 . Similarly, the presentation could include the patient&#39;s name, again if that information was included in the acknowledgement sent back to external device  15  by medical device  22 . Also, it is contemplated that the type of medical device  22  could also be presented such as whether the medical device  22  is a neurostimulator, a drug pump and a cardiac defibrillator or other medical device. It is to recognized and understood that these are merely examples of the kinds and type of information which could be presented to a user, either together, individually or selectively, enabling the user of external device  15  to make an informed decision on the selection of the medical device  15  with which to establish transcutaneous communication. It is also to be recognized and understood that other forms of presentation, other than the tabular format illustrated in  FIG. 5 , could be used as a presentation format, such as an iconic display, visual representations by color or shape, auditory or tactile sensory presentations.  
      Other techniques to establish transcutaneous communication between an external device  15  and one of a plurality of medical devices  22  are contemplated.  
      A first exemplary technique implanted medical devices respond to an identification command (sent by an external unit) with various random delays to prevent the uplink response from multiple implanted medical devices from overlapping and thereby corrupting the signal. The user of the external device can then look at each time slot, identify and record each implanted medical device that responds, i.e., sends an uplink response, and telemeter the identified implanted medical devices to stop communicating to an identification command from that external device for a period of time, and then reissue the identification command. After repeated attempts, all implanted medical devices within range can be found and silenced. When no further implanted medical devices respond to the identification command, a complete list of implanted medical devices within range is obtained. The user may select from the list of devices based on knowledge of how the devices are named or identified in order to uniquely select an individual implanted medical device.  
      This is illustrated in the timing diagram of  FIG. 6  in which time increases to the right. External device  15  sends an identification command  50 A. Two or more medical devices  22  respond with varying delays, each in one of time slots  52 A through  66 A. Any medical device  22  responding in a time slot ( 52 A,  54 A,  56 A,  58 A,  60 A,  62 A,  64 A or  66 A) that does not collide with the response of another medical device  22  can be identified by external device  15  and instructs with command  68 A to cease responding to further identification commands, e.g., for a predetermined period of time or until another specified event or signal. External device  15  may then issue a second identification command  50 B and await responses from remaining medical devices  22  in one of time slots  52 B,  54 B,  56 B,  58 B,  60 B,  62 B,  64 B or  66 B. Again any responses that do not collide identify another medical device or other medical devices  22 . This process may be repeated until, eventually, no medical devices respond within any of the time slots indicating that all medical devices  22  within range have been identified. The particular medical device  22  with which external device  15  communicates may than be selected through conventional, e.g., picked from a list, or other means.  
      A second exemplary technique uses a pseudo-random system that is based on downlink telemetry strength. Implanted medical devices that receive a strong downlink signal reply to an identification command in a first time slot, or in a first few time slots, during device arbitration. Implanted medical devices that receive a weaker downlink signal reply to the identification command in a later time slot or in later time slots. The user can then select the implanted medical device that first responds to the identification command, which typically is the implanted medical device closest to the external device operated by the user and that received the strongest downlink signal, i.e., the strongest identification command. The user not need select the particular implanted medical device from a list of devices that are in the telemetry range of the external device. The arbitration is faster than the first exemplary technique, since it doesn&#39;t need to find and identify every implanted medical device within range, but only needs to find the closest implanted medical device, which responds in one of the earliest timeslots. Multiple command attempts are typically not needed.  
      In  FIG. 3 , medical devices receiving an identification command having a strong or stronger downlink signal, i.e., an identification command, may respond in one of the first four time slots, namely time slots ( 52 ,  54 ,  56  and  58 ) and medical devices receiving an identification command having a weak or weaker downlink signal, i.e., an identification command, may respond in one the last four time slot, namely time slots ( 60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66 ). Relative downlink signal strength may be approximated without reference to the knowledge of the downlink signal strength of another medical device, for example, by a predetermined threshold. A signal strength of an identification command above a predetermined threshold is treated as strong downlink signal while an identification command having a signal strength below the predetermined threshold is treated as a weak downlink signal.  
      This technique works well when external device  15  is located significantly closer to the medical device  22  with which communication is intended than other medical devices within communication range. An additional benefit of this technique is that if only one medical device  22  responds in a time slot indicative of a strong downlink signal, and perhaps if the user is confident that external device  15  is positioned closest to the intended medical device  22 , then communication may be established with that medical device  22  without the necessity of identifying or listing all responding medical devices  22 .  
      External device  15  will start a transcutaneous communication session with the first implanted medical device  22 A recognized after broadcasting an identification command is sent. As noted above, the uplink time slots ( 52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66 ) may be grouped according to detected downlink strength.  
      External device  15  may send an identification command  50  to find a medical device  22  on the first button pressed by a user that requires telemetry. The delayed uplinks from the medical device  22  may be grouped so that the medical device  22  that receives the identification command  50  with high downlink strength (for example, data strength of 7), it will send an uplink response randomized in the first four timeslots ( 52 ,  54 ,  56  and  58 ) (100-400 milliseconds of delay) and if the medical device  22  receives the identification command  50  with medium or low downlink strength (for example, data strength of 3 or 1), it will respond with a randomized uplink in the last four timeslots ( 60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66 ) (500-800 milliseconds of delay).  
      A medical device  22  detects a high strength downlink if an external device  22  is positioned properly over the medical device  22 . Another medical device  22  that is sitting right next to the first medical device  22  will get a strength indicator of medium or low. This dramatically increases the odds of selecting the medical device  22  that is closest to the external device and can shorten the amount of time (up to 400 milliseconds) for determining which medical device  22  to talk to for a properly located external device  15 .  
      If two implanted medical devices are at an approximately equal distance from the external device, special provision may need to be made since collision of uplink responses from the multiple implanted medical devices is likely. First, the system may still pick the first implanted medical device that communicates with it, since there still can be timeslots within each downlink strength that are still randomly sorted, or sorted by serial number, for example, so uplink responses from equally spaced implanted medical device do not collide. Second, the user may by alerted to move the external device closer to the implanted medical device with which communication is desired, in the event of collision of uplink responses from more than one implanted medical device. Third, all of the implanted medical devices may be listed as in the first exemplary technique described above and the user may select the implanted medical device with which communication is desired.  
      In a third exemplary technique, the user may look at the strength of the uplink signal from each of the plurality of implanted medical devices. In this exemplary embodiment, time-slot arbitration would be used with many different time slots to minimize and, hopefully, prevent uplink response collisions. The user may receive uplink response from all of the implanted medical devices using the arbitration techniques as described above in the first exemplary technique and then look to see which implanted medical device replied with the strongest uplink signal. The user may then select the implanted device having the strongest uplink response signal, which is usually the implanted medical device that is closest to the external device issuing the identification command.  
      It is to be recognized and understood that the above described techniques are primarily intended to arbitrate between two or more implanted medical devices in the establishment and/or identification of such devices by an external device desiring to communicate with one or more such devices. It should be recognized that once each, or one of, the implanted medical are identified such that an identifier associated with the implanted medical device is known to the external device, that the external device may communicate with any such known implanted medical device simply by specifying the identifier or address of that device without the necessity to further resort to arbitration techniques.  
      After the communication session starts, the ID medical device  22  selected is set in the external device  15  and the external device  15  will only communicate to the initial medical device  22  found until the communication session is ended.  
      The contents of provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/589,994, filed Jul. 20, 2004, are hereby incorporated by reference.  
      Thus, embodiments of the medical device telemetry arbitration system are disclosed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced with embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.