Implantable Neurostimulator Passive Wake-Up Signal Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current implantable neurostimulation devices face challenges in power-efficient wake-up and pairing with external mobile instruments, leading to battery depletion and increased risk of malicious communication due to frequent advertisement signals, especially when no authorized device is present.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a passive detection method where the implantable device sniffs for wake-up signals from external instruments, only activating its transmission components upon valid detection, and having the external instrument generate advertisement signals in response to user input, reducing unnecessary power consumption and minimizing exposure to rogue devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the implantable device periodically transmits advertisement signals to enable wake-up and pairing with mobile instruments, then the device can establish communication with external devices, but the battery resources are significantly depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake-up and pairing capabilityVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional advertisement model by having the mobile device transmit wake-up signals instead of the implantable device transmitting advertisement signals. The implantable device listens for these incoming wake-up signals and only responds when detected, thereby eliminating the energy-consuming periodic advertisement transmissions while maintaining wake-up and pairing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device is empowered to initiate the wake-up process by transmitting wake-up signals that the implantable device can detect. This self-service approach allows the external device to trigger communication needs without requiring the implantable device to continuously advertise its presence, thus conserving battery resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the implantable device transmits frequent advertisement signals to ensure detectability, then the device can be reliably discovered by mobile instruments, but the device becomes vulnerable to malicious spoofing or hacking attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discoverabilityVSAvoidspoofing and hacking risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the communication initiative by having the mobile device send wake-up signals rather than the implantable device broadcasting advertisements. This inversion reduces the implantable device's exposure to spoofing attacks since it is not continuously advertising its presence, while maintainin greliable discoverability through the mobile-initiated wake-up mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements preliminary security measures by requiring authenticated wake-up signals from mobile devices before the implantable device responds. This preliminary anti-action prevents malicious spoofing attempts by verifying the authenticity of wake-up signals before establishing communication, thereby protecting against hacking while maintaining reliable device discovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If the implantable device remains in active state to respond to communication requests, then the device can maintain responsive communication with mobile instruments, but the power supply is unduly depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication responsivenessVSAvoidpower supply consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The implantable device operates in periodic sleep-wake cycles, remaining in a low-power state and only activating when it detects a wake-up signal from a mobile device. This periodic action pattern maintains communication responsiveness when needed while dramatically reducing power consumption during idle periods, resolving the contradiction between responsiveness and energy usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device serves itself by initiating wake-up signals, allowing the implantable device to remain in sleep mode without compromising communication responsiveness. When the mobile device needs to communicate, it automatically triggers the wake-up process, eliminating the need for the implantable device to remain continuously active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9427592B2Systems and methods for low energy wake-up and pairing for use with implantable medical devices

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 PACESETTER INC

AI summary

Techniques are provided for use with implantable medical devices or trial medical devices for wirelessly connecting the devices to external instruments such as tablet computers or smartphones. In an example where the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator, the neurostimulator passively detects wireless wake-up signals generated by the external instrument, i.e. the neurostimulator “sniffs” for advertisement signals generated by the external instrument. In response to passive detection of a wake-up signal, the implantable neurostimulator determines if a response is warranted and, if so, the neurostimulator activates its wireless transmission components to transmit an acknowledgement signal to the external instrument so as to complete a wake-up and handshake protocol. In this manner, power consumption within the implantable device (or within a similarly equipped trial medical device) can be reduced compared to devices that would otherwise periodically transmit advertisement signals even when no external mobile instrument is present.