Neurostimulator system apparatus and method
An apparatus ( 10 ) for applying stimulation therapy to a patient includes an implantable medical device ( 20 ) and a remote controller ( 50 a ) for inductively powering the medical device and communicating with the medical device. The remote controller ( 50 a ) includes an improved coil configuration to improve communication performance between the remote controller ( 50 a ) and an implanted medical device ( 20 ).
1. An apparatus for applying stimulation therapy to a patient, the apparatus comprising:
an implantable medical device; and
a remote controller for inductively powering the implantable medical device and communicating with the implantable medical device, the remote controller comprising:
a transmit coil for transmitting a transmit signal to the implantable medical device; and
a receiver coil for receiving a telemetry signal from the implantable medical device, the receiver coil being configured to cancel out at least a portion of the transmit signal, wherein the receiver coil comprises at least two sub-coils geometrically configured to cancel out at least a portion of the transmit signal.
2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the sub-coils are arranged in a symmetrical fashion.
3. The apparatus recited in claim 2 , wherein the sub-coils comprise first and second D-shaped coils.
4. The apparatus recited in claim 3 , wherein the transmit coil has a circular configuration and the first and second D-shaped coils are nested within the circular transmit coil.
5. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the sub-coils have positive ends electrically connected with each other.
6. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the remote controller is adapted to excite via the transmit coil a transmit/receive coil of the implantable medical device;
the implantable medical device is adapted to transmit via the transmit/receive coil a telemetry signal; and
the remote controller is further adapted to receive the telemetry signal via the receiver coil.
7. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the remote controller further comprises a receiver operatively connected to the receiver coil, the receiver being adapted to receive a telemetry signal from the implantable medical device.
8. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the remote controller further comprises a power driver adapted modulate the energy of the transmit coil in response to the received data.
9. The apparatus recited in claim 8 , wherein the power driver is adapted to drive the transmit coil at a suitable frequency to transmit power to a transmit/receive coil of the implantable medical device to power the implantable medical device.
10. The apparatus recited in claim 8 , wherein the power driver is adapted to modulate the signal on the transmit coil to send commands to the implantable medical device.
11. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the implantable medical device comprises a transmit/receive coil and is adapted to selectively change the impedance of the transmit/receive coil to transmit a telemetry signal, the remote controller being adapted to receive, filter, and amplify the telemetry signal.
12. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the sub-coils have asymmetrical configurations.
13. The apparatus recited in claim 12 , wherein the sub-coils are configured with an unequal number of windings to compensate for their asymmetrical configurations.
14. The apparatus recited in claim 12 , wherein the sub-coils are shaped geometrically and/or spatially to compensate for their asymmetrical configurations.
15. A remote controller for inductively powering and communicating with an implantable medical device, the remote controller comprising:
a transmit coil; and
a receiver coil having a configuration and position relative to the transmit coil that cancels out at least a portion of a transmit signal transmitted by the transmit coil, wherein the receiver coil comprises at least two sub-coils.
16. The remote controller recited in claim 15 , wherein the sub-coils are arranged in a symmetrical fashion.
17. The remote controller recited in claim 15 , wherein the sub-coils comprise first and second D-shaped coils.
18. The remote controller recited in claim 15 , wherein the transmit coil has a circular configuration and the first and second D-shaped coils are nested within the circular transmit coil.
19. The remote controller recited in claim 15 , wherein the sub-coils have positive ends electrically connected with each other.
20. The remote controller recited in claim 15 , wherein the sub-coils have asymmetrical configurations.
21. The remote controller recited in claim 20 , wherein the sub-coils are configured with an unequal number of windings to compensate for their asymmetrical configurations.
22. The remote controller recited in claim 20 , wherein the sub-coils are shaped geometrically and/or spatially to compensate for their asymmetrical configurations.