Timing Coordination of Implantable Sensor Modules via Two-Wire Bus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices face challenges with power conservation and interference due to numerous electrically conductive wires, which affect the reliability of communication between master devices and sensor modules, particularly in delivering life-supporting therapies that require precise coordination of sensor actions for valid measurements.
Innovation Solution
An implantable medical device system with a host controller that coordinates timing for sensor actions across multiple sensor modules via a two-wire bus, allowing for coordinated performance of measurements like tissue perfusion, blood oxygen sensing, and pressure measurements, and automatically adjusts operational parameters for improved measurement accuracy and power efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple electrically conductive wires are used on the bus to connect master device and sensor modules, then communication capability and power supply are improved, but interference and disturbance to the patient's body increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (data communication, timing synchronization, and power supply) into a single two-wire bus interface. This merging approach reduces the total number of conductive wires from multiple separate connections to just two wires, thereby minimizing interference to the patient's body while maintaining all necessary communication and power delivery capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor modules are used to perform multiple sensor actions, then measurement capability and versatility are improved, but device complexity and timing coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic timing coordination where the host controller adaptively manages the timing of sensor actions across multiple sensor modules based on the specific measurement requirements. The system can dynamically adjust which sensor modules are active and their respective timing, allowing versatile multi-sensor measurements while the host controller handles the complexity of coordination, keeping the individual sensor modules simple.
3Loss of energy
If sensor actions are coordinated via a two-wire bus with control signals, then power consumption is reduced and interference is minimized, but communication protocol complexity and timing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic control signals transmitted over the two-wire bus to coordinate sensor actions. The host controller sends periodic timing signals that synchronize multiple sensor modules, ensuring they perform their respective actions at the correct times. This periodic approach allows for precise timing coordination while using simple two-wire communication, balancing the reduced power consumption and interference against the timing precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, the disclosure is directed toward an implantable medical device that includes a plurality of sensor modules that are implanted within a patient. The sensor modules may cooperate with each other to coordinate the timing for performance of one or more sensor actions across the modules when making a measurement. Example measurements include tissue perfusion measurements, oxygen sensing measurements, sonomicrometry measurements, and pressure measurements. The coordination of the sensor modules may be controlled by a signal that is transmitted from a host controller to the sensor modules via a bus. In some examples, the bus may have two wires that transmit both timing information and data information to the sensor modules. The signal may be a signal that is substantially periodic, such as a pulsed signal. In additional examples, the signal may supply operating power and timing information to the sensor modules.