Methods and apparatus for tissue activation and monitoring
Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.
1 - 46 . (canceled)
47 . An integrated circuit for use to configure electrodes in an implanted lead, the implanted lead being operatively coupled to a controller, the integrated circuit comprising:
a first terminal;
a second terminal; and
circuitry coupled to the first and second terminals wherein, during a first time interval, during which digital configuration signals are provided from the controller on the first terminal, the circuitry selectively configures selected ones of the electrodes to the first terminal, and wherein, during a second time interval, the controller administers electrical signals through the configured electrodes by way of the first terminal.
48 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein, during a third time interval, the controller senses electrical signals in the vicinities of the configured electrodes by way of the first terminal.
49 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the first terminal is coupled to a conductor provided in the implanted lead.
50 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the second terminal is coupled to a conductor provided in the implanted lead.
51 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the first terminal is coupled to a conductive fluid into which the lead is implanted.
52 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the second terminal is coupled to a conductive fluid into which the lead is implanted
53 . The integrated circuit of claim 52 , wherein the power supply circuit generates provides the power supply voltage during the second time interval from energy collected during the first time interval
54 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the configuration signals are encoded using a signal modulation convention.
55 . The integrated circuit of claim 54 , wherein the signal modulation convention comprises a frequency-shift keying signal modulation convention.
56 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the control circuit comprises memory element for enabling the selected electrodes to remain configured during the second time interval.
57 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the integrated circuit is assigned an identity code, and wherein the configuration signals are received into the integrated circuit only when the identity code matches a bit sequence in the configuration signals.
58 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein portions of the control circuit are configured to go into a low power mode of operation during the second time interval.
59 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the number of commands encoded in the configuration signals has a predetermined number in bits, considerably less than the total number of commands encodable in the predetermined number of bits.
60 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the control circuit generates an asynchronous reset signal to clear the configurations of the selected electrodes at the beginning of the first time interval.
61 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the control circuit comprises a clock recovery circuit which recovers a clock signal from the configuration signals.
62 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the selected electrodes are configured upon receiving a switch command in the configuration signals.
63 . The integrated circuit of claim 47 , wherein the control circuit comprises multiple electrode configuration circuits each provided to configure an associated electrode.
64 . The integrated circuit of claim 63 , wherein a plurality of like integrated circuits are provided at various locations in the embedded lead.
65 . The integrated circuit of claim 64 , wherein selected electrodes in one of the like integrated circuits are configured to couple to the first terminal and selected electrodes in another of the like integrated circuits are configured to couple to the second terminal.
66 - 75 . (canceled)