Wireless Bridge for Implantable Medical Device Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices (IMDs) face limitations in communication range due to path attenuation when transmitting data through the human body, particularly using commercial protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy on the 2.450 GHz ISM band, which suffers from interference and reduced signal quality.
Innovation Solution
A wireless bridge device with a System on Chip (SoC) establishes concurrent bi-directional communication links between an external device and an IMD, using protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy, ZigBee, or Medical Implant Communication Service, to relay data packets and extend the communication range by positioning the bridge device closer to the IMD.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If commercial protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy are used for IMD communication, then compatibility with external devices is improved, but communication range is limited due to path attenuation through the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external bridge device that acts as an intermediary between the IMD and the external device. The bridge device receives data packets from the IMD via short-range communication and forwards them to the external device via long-range communication, thereby extending the effective communication range without requiring the IMD to communicate directly over long distances through the body
2Device complexity
If the IMD transmits data directly to the external device, then communication simplicity is maintained, but signal quality deteriorates due to interference and path attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge device serves as a mediator that improves signal quality by receiving transmissions from the IMD at close proximity where signal strength is high, then retransmitting to the external device. This two-hop approach avoids direct long-range transmission through the body, thereby maintaining better signal quality and reliability
3Device complexity
If a direct communication link is used between IMD and external device, then device complexity is reduced, but communication range extension capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge device is introduced as an external intermediary that handles the complexity of range extension without modifying the IMD itself. The IMD maintains its simple direct communication capability, while the bridge device provides the additional functionality needed for extended range communication when required
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for bridging a bi-directional communication link between an external device and an implantable medical device (IMD). The systems and methods establish a first bi-directional communication link between an external device and a wireless bridge device according to a wireless protocol, and establish a second bi-directional communication link between the wireless bridge device and an IMD concurrently with the first bi-direction communication link according to the wireless protocol. The systems and methods further receive a data packet from the external device at the wireless bridge device. The data packet is received during the communication interval. The systems and methods further transmit the data packet from the wireless bridge device to the IMD during the communication interval.