Implantable Device Telemetry With Echo Code Retransmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telemetry methods for implantable medical devices face challenges with short communication ranges and susceptibility to noise interference, particularly in far field radio frequency communications.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a synchronization signal with an echo code to request and transmit redundant data units from an implantable device to an external device, ensuring robust communication by bundling real-time data with additional data units stored in a buffer, selected based on the echo code, to correct for data losses due to noise or interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inductive telemetry is used for communication, then communication robustness is improved, but communication range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary request mechanism where the external device sends a synchronization signal with an echo code requesting specific data, and the implantable device responds by transmitting requested data units from its buffer. This mediator-like request-response system enables more efficient data transmission over extended ranges while maintaining robustness through selective retransmission of only necessary data.
2Reliability
If redundant data is transmitted continuously, then data integrity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic telemetry encoding system where the implantable device maintains a buffer of recently transmitted data units and selectively retransmits data based on external requests. The echo code in the synchronization signal dynamically determines which data units should be retransmitted, allowing the system to adapt the level of redundancy to actual communication needs rather than continuously transmitting all possible redundant data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of data transmission by using an echo code that specifies which data units should be retransmitted. Instead of fixed continuous redundancy, the echo code parameter dynamically controls the selection of data units from the buffer, optimizing the balance between data integrity and power consumption based on communication conditions.
3Reliability
If data retransmission is implemented, then communication reliability is improved, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission process into distinct components: a buffer storing individual data units, a synchronization signal containing an echo code, and a selective response mechanism. This segmentation allows the complex retransmission function to be broken down into manageable parts, where the echo code specifies which segmented data units should be retransmitted, reducing overall system complexity.
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 communication reliability by providing on-demand retransmission of data, improving communication robustness and reducing power consumption by transmitting redundant data only as needed, thereby extending the communication range and maintaining data integrity.
Implementation Method 1
A typical implantable medical device is configured to enable wireless communications with an external device, such as a programmer or a repeater, using inductive telemetry. Inductive telemetry operates using a near field inductive coupling
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with an IMD and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver. The processor is configured to detect an error in a data unit received from the IMD, transmit a series of synchronization signals during an uninterrupted communication sequence, and receive, for each synchronization signal, a new data unit and the number of requested duplicate data units from the IMD. Each synchronization signal includes an echo code, wherein the echo code corresponds to a request for a number of duplicate data units to be sent in response to detecting the error in the data unit received during said uninterrupted communication sequence. The number of duplicate data units corresponds to a value of the echo code, and a duplicate data unit corresponds to a data unit previously transmitted by the IMD during said uninterrupted communication sequence.