Power regulated implant
View Patent ↗An implantable pumping system for pumping a fluid in an implantable gastric banding system comprises a pump for pumping the fluid. A voltage source provides a pump voltage to the system, and a voltage control circuit increases or decreases the pump voltage. A pump driver applies the pump voltage to the pump at a phase and a frequency. The implantable pumping system comprises a sensor that monitors a parameter to facilitate adjusting at least one of the phase or the frequency to maintain a desired value of the parameter. The parameter is associated with at least one of the implantable pumping system or the implantable gastric banding system. A micro controller is configured to manipulate at least one of the phase or the frequency to maintain the desired value of the parameter. The sensor may comprise a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and/or a flow rate sensor.
1. A method for monitoring a parameter of an implantable pumping system for an implantable gastric banding system, the method comprising:
measuring a temperature associated with the implantable pumping system;
determining a temperature difference between the measured temperature and a predefined operational temperature, wherein the temperature difference is associated with power consumed by a pump at a set frequency and voltage;
comparing the temperature difference to a predetermined difference that is between approximately −2 degrees Celsius and approximately +2 degrees Celsius from the predefined operational temperature; and
when the temperature difference is between approximately −2 degrees Celsius and approximately +2 degrees Celsius from the predefined operational temperature, setting frequency and voltage of the power consumed by the pump as a function of the determined temperature difference so that the power consumed by the pump is up to a maximum power level.
2. A method for monitoring a parameter of an implantable pumping system for an implantable gastric banding system, the method comprising:
setting a frequency and voltage so that a pump operates at a maximum power level;
periodically measuring the parameter of the implantable pumping system, wherein the parameter is associated with power consumed by the pump;
comparing the measured parameter to a predetermined operational threshold;
when the measured parameter is above the predetermined operational threshold, adjusting one or both of the set frequency and voltage to reduce the power consumed by the pump;
turning the pump off when the measured parameter is above a predetermined maximum threshold, which is greater than the predetermined operational threshold; and
after turning the pump off, when the measured parameter decreases below the predetermined maximum threshold, turning the pump on and re-setting the frequency and voltage so that the pump operates at the maximum power level.
3. A method for monitoring an implantable pumping system for an implantable gastric banding system, the method comprising:
measuring a parameter of the implantable pumping system, wherein the parameter is associated with power consumed by a pump of the pumping system when the pump is operating;
comparing the parameter to an operational range of values, and wherein when the measured parameter is within the operational range of values, comparing the measured parameter to predefined discrete intervals within the operational range of values;
turning a pump of the pumping system off when the measured parameter transitions from being within the operational range of values to being outside the operational range of values and turning the pump on when the measured parameter transitions from being outside the operational range of values to being within the operational range of values; and
when the measured parameter is within the range of values, adjusting at least one of a frequency or voltage of the power consumed by the pump as a function of the respective discrete interval in which the measured parameter falls, wherein:
the frequency and/or voltage are adjusted so that the pump operates at a maximum power level when the measured parameter falls within a first discrete interval and are adjusted so that the pump operates at less than the maximum power level when the measured parameter falls within a second discrete interval.