Adaptive Timing for Tissue Conduction Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue conduction communication (TCC) systems face challenges in ensuring reliable communication between implantable medical devices (IMDs) due to varying transimpedance caused by patient body motion, which can lead to reduced signal strength and potential interference with other sensing electrodes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of adaptive timing for TCC signal transmission, where test signals are transmitted at multiple times to detect optimal transimpedance windows, allowing for increased signal strength and minimized current amplitude to avoid tissue stimulation and conserve battery power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCC signals are transmitted continuously to ensure reliable communication, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases and tissue stimulation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits TCC test signals at periodic intervals rather than continuously, using a controller to send signals at specific time points and establish transmission windows based on detected transimpedance patterns. This periodic transmission approach maintains communication reliability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission timing based on detected transimpedance variations. The controller establishes transmission windows that adapt to changing body motion conditions, transmitting signals only when transimpedance indicates optimal communication conditions. This dynamic approach ensures reliable communication while minimizing energy waste during poor transmission conditions.
2Strength
If TCC signal amplitude is increased to overcome varying transimpedance, then signal strength is improved, but tissue stimulation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary transmission tests at multiple time points to detect optimal transimpedance windows before actual communication. By pre-characterizing the transimpedance pattern through test signals, the system can later transmit communication signals at optimal times with minimal amplitude, avoiding the need for high-amplitude continuous transmission that would risk tissue stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timing parameter of signal transmission based on detected transimpedance patterns rather than changing signal amplitude. By adjusting when signals are transmitted to coincide with high transimpedance periods, the system maintains adequate signal strength without increasing amplitude, thereby avoiding harmful tissue stimulation.
3Device complexity
If TCC transmission occurs without adaptive timing, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to body motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback through test signal transmission and response detection. The controller sends test signals at multiple time points, detects the responses to characterize transimpedance patterns, and uses this feedback information to establish optimal transmission windows. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable communication under varying body motion conditions while keeping the device architecture relatively simple.
4Measurement precision
If test signals are transmitted at multiple time points to detect optimal windows, then measurement precision of transimpedance is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits test signals at multiple discrete time points rather than continuously monitoring, using a sufficient but not excessive number of samples to characterize the transimpedance pattern. This approach achieves adequate measurement precision for establishing transmission windows while minimizing the time lost to testing compared to continuous or overly frequent sampling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the reliability and efficiency of TCC by maximizing signal reception during times of high transimpedance, reducing the risk of unintended tissue stimulation and conserving energy, while minimizing interference with other IMD systems.
Implementation Method 1
transmit a TCC test signal at multiple time points over a transmission test period to a receiving device via a transmitting electrode vector coupled to the TCC transmitter and a conductive tissue pathway in a patient
Data Source
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AI summary
A device and method are described for transmitting tissue conductance communication (TCC) signals. A device may be is configured to establish a transmission window by transmitting a TCC test signal at multiple time points over a transmission test period to a receiving device and detect at least one response to the transmitted TCC test signals performed by the receiving device. The IMD is configured to establish the transmission window based on the at least one detected response so that the transmission window is correlated to a time of relative increased transimpedance between a transmitting electrode vector and receiving electrode vector during the transmission test period.