IMD Communication Interference Management via Staged Receiver Wakeup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly during communication processes, which affects their longevity and efficiency in pacing, sensing, and data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that enables communication capabilities during message alert periods, monitors for valid messages, and disables communication when an invalid message count reaches a threshold, using a staged receiver wakeup scheme to conserve power by reducing unnecessary wake-ups of higher power receivers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If communication capability is continuously enabled to ensure reliable message reception, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is enabled periodically during message alert periods rather than continuously. The system uses staged wake-up schemes where receivers are activated only when messages are expected, creating a periodic operation pattern that reduces power consumption while maintaining communication reliability through scheduled monitoring intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by enabling receivers in advance of expected message arrivals during message alert periods. The staged receiver wake-up scheme activates receivers before potential message reception events, ensuring readiness without requiring continuous operation, thus balancing reliability and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If receivers are frequently woken up to monitor for messages, then message detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage detection capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver system is segmented into multiple stages with different power consumption levels. The first receiver operates at lower power and can wake up the second receiver when needed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain message detection capability through a hierarchy of receivers with varying sensitivity and power requirements, reducing overall power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses partial action by enabling only the necessary receiver stages during message alert periods rather than all receivers continuously. The staged wake-up scheme activates receivers partially based on message alert conditions, providing sufficient detection capability without the excessive power consumption of full continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If communication monitoring is continuous to detect valid messages, then message validation reliability is improved, but device longevity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage validation reliabilityVSAvoiddevice longevity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Communication monitoring is performed periodically during message alert periods rather than continuously. The system balances message validation reliability with device longevity by scheduling monitoring activities in periodic intervals when messages are expected, reducing overall power consumption and extending battery life while maintaining adequate validation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary monitoring actions during message alert periods before actual message arrival. By enabling communication capability in advance during scheduled alert periods, the system ensures validation readiness without requiring continuous monitoring, thus extending device longevity while maintaining validation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11766570B2Managing communication interference in leadless dual-chamber pacing systems and other IMD systems

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 PACESETTER INC

AI summary

Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes, during each of a plurality of message alert periods during which a communication capability of the IMD is enabled, determining whether a valid message is detected. In response to determining that no valid message was detected during a message alert period, the communication capability of the IMD is temporarily disable for a disable period. A length of the disable period may be increased in response to no valid message being detected during two consecutive message alert periods. A length of the disable period may be dependent on an operational mode of the IMD, such that the length of the disable period differs for different operational modes. The IMD may also enter a noise state, and remain in the noise state until the IMD receives a specified number of valid messages.