External-to-Implantable Conductive Telemetry With Adaptive Edge Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive communication between external devices and implantable medical devices is affected by orientation of IMDs, skin electrode placement, and noise variability, which can degrade communication quality, especially when multiple IMDs are involved.
Innovation Solution
Implementing sense circuitry with a controller to determine a noise baseline and edge detection threshold, using amplified and filtered signals to produce edge detections, and employing a tiered search for known message preambles to establish active telemetry sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductive communication signals are transmitted through patient tissue using skin electrodes, then communication between external device and IMD is enabled, but communication quality deteriorates due to noise variability and fading caused by IMD orientation and electrode placement
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the edge detection threshold based on the measured noise baseline. The controller continuously monitors the sensed signal, determines the noise baseline, and adjusts the threshold accordingly to adapt to varying noise conditions caused by different IMD orientations and electrode placements, thereby maintaining reliable communication quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of edge detection threshold from a fixed value to a dynamically adjusted value based on noise baseline. By modifying this parameter in response to varying noise conditions, the system maintains accurate signal detection despite noise variability and fading effects
2Productivity
If edge detection threshold is set to detect signal transitions, then communication signals can be decoded, but false detections occur due to noise variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback by continuously measuring the noise baseline from the sensed signal and using this information to adjust the edge detection threshold. This feedback mechanism ensures that the threshold adapts to current noise conditions, preventing false detections while maintaining efficient signal decoding
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs preliminary measurement of the noise baseline before setting the edge detection threshold. By establishing the noise baseline in advance, the system can configure an appropriate threshold that accounts for current noise conditions, thereby avoiding false detections while maintaining fast signal detection
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple IMDs are communicated with simultaneously, then comprehensive patient monitoring is achieved, but communication quality deteriorates due to signal interference and fading
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by determining noise baseline and adjusting edge detection threshold for each individual IMD communication channel. This allows each IMD to be monitored with optimized detection parameters tailored to its specific orientation and signal characteristics, maintaining reliable communication across multiple devices
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
Enhances communication quality by stabilizing signal transitions and improving detection accuracy, enabling efficient communication with multiple IMDs using conductive communication.
Implementation Method 1
two or more skin electrodes that are part of or communicatively coupled to the external device are attached to or otherwise placed in contact with skin of a patient within which (i.e., in whom) one or more IMDs is/are implanted, and the two or more skin or electrodes are used to transmit information to and/or receive information from the IMD(s) via conduction through body tissue of the patient
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein can be used to enable and/or improve conductive communication between an external device (109) and one or more implantable medical devices (IMDs) (102, 104, 106) in time, cost and/or energy efficient manners. Certain embodiments relate to specifying an appropriate edge detection threshold for use when performing conductive communication. Certain embodiments relate to use of the edge detection threshold to produce edge detections and decode a received conductive communication signal. Other embodiments relate to an external device's (109) tiered search for an advertisement sequence transmitted by an IMD (102, 104, 106) to enable the external device (109) to detect the presence of the IMD (102, 104, 106) and establish an active conductive telemetry session with the IMD (102, 104, 106). Still other embodiments relate to first, second, and third segments (824, 826, 828) of a frame (804) include respective first, second, and third CRC codes. Addition embodiments of the present technology are also disclosed herein.