External Unit of an Implanted Medical Device

Abstract

A method, systems, and devices are disclosed. An example method includes determining whether an external unit of an implanted medical device is coupled to an implanted unit of the implanted medical device. In response to determining that the external unit is coupled to the implanted unit, the example method includes causing the external unit to operate in a first operating mode. In response to determining that the external unit is not coupled to the implanted unit, the example method includes causing the external unit to operate in a second operating mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining whether an external unit of a implanted medical device is coupled to an implanted unit of the implanted medical device;   in response to determining that the external unit is coupled to the implanted unit, causing the external unit to operate in a first operating mode; and   in response to determining that the external unit is not coupled to the implanted unit, causing the external unit to operate in a second operating mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the external unit is coupled to the implanted unit includes receiving a signal indicative of establishing a closely-coupled link between the external unit and the implanted unit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the external unit is coupled to the implanted unit includes:
 receiving a signal that includes information indicative of a magnitude of a magnetic field between the implanted unit and the external unit; and   determining that the magnitude of the magnetic field is greater than a threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the external unit transmits a first signal to the implanted unit when operating in the first operating mode; and   the external unit transmits a second signal to an electronic device when operating in the second operating mode, wherein the external unit transmits the second signal to the electronic device at a frequency in an electromagnetic spectrum.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the external unit transmits the first signal to the implanted unit via a communication channel in a reactive near field. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first signal includes information indicative of a stimulus deliverable by the implanted unit to a recipient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first signal includes a power signal, and wherein the external unit sends the first signal to the implanted unit via an inductive coil. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the frequency of the second signal is a radio frequency spectrum frequency. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising receiving an input via a user interface that includes information indicative of a request that the electronic device perform an action, wherein the second signal includes instructions for causing the electronic device to perform the action. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the external unit transmits a first signal to the implanted unit via a communication channel in a reactive near-field when operating in the first operating mode; and   the external unit transmits a second signal to the implanted unit at a frequency in an electromagnetic spectrum when operating in the second operating mode.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 an implanted unit of a hearing prosthesis configured to deliver a stimulus to a recipient; and   an external unit of a hearing prosthesis, wherein the external unit is configured to:
 generate and send at least a power signal to the implanted unit via a first communication channel in a first operating mode; and 
 send a command signal to an external electronic device via a second communication channel in a second operating mode, wherein the command signal includes instructions for causing the electronic device to perform a function. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the external unit, when operating in the first operating mode, is further configured to:
 receive and process a sound;   generate a stimulation signal that includes information indicative of the sound; and   transmit the stimulation signal to the implanted unit via the first communication channel.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the external unit does not process the sound when operating in the second operating mode. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the external unit modulates the stimulation signal in the power signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first communication channel is a closely-coupled link between the implanted unit and the external unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second communication channel is a radio-frequency communication channel. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the implanted unit is configured to send a telemetry signal to the external unit via the first communication channel, wherein the external unit is further configured to operate in the first operating mode upon receiving the telemetry signal. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein, when the external unit operates in the second operating mode, the implanted unit is configured to:
 receive and process a sound;   generate a stimulation signal that includes information indicative of the sound, wherein the stimulus is based on the stimulation signal.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein, when the external unit operates in the first operating mode, the implanted unit is further configured to:
 receive and process a second sound; and   generate a second stimulation signal that includes information indicative of the second sound, wherein the external unit is further configured to deliver a second stimulus to the recipient that is based on the second stimulation signal.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored therein instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:
 determining a range between an implanted unit of a hearing prosthesis and an external unit of the hearing prosthesis;   causing the external unit to send a first signal to the implanted unit upon determining that the range is below a threshold range; and   causing the external unit to send a second signal to an electronic device upon determining that the range is above the threshold range.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 21 , wherein the functions further comprise receiving an indication of a magnitude of a magnetic field between the implanted unit and the external unit, wherein determining the range includes determining whether the magnetic field is greater than a threshold level. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable memory of  claim 20 , wherein the functions further comprise receiving a telemetry signal from the external unit, wherein determining the range includes determining whether the telemetry signal is received. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 20 , wherein, upon determining that the range is below the threshold range, the functions further comprise:
 receiving an audio signal that includes information indicative of audio;   processing the audio signal to generate a stimulation signal that includes information indicative of a stimulus, wherein delivering the stimulus to a recipients allows the recipient to perceive at least a portion of the audio; and   including the stimulation signal in the first signal.   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 20 , wherein causing the external unit to send a second signal includes:
 receiving an input indicative of a requested action at a user input interface; and   identifying instructions for causing the electronic device to perform the requested action, wherein the second signal includes the instructions.   
     
     
         25 . A device comprising:
 an inductive coil configured to inductively transfer at least a power signal to an implanted unit;   a power supply configured to provide the power signal;   a user interface configured to receive an input signal;   an antenna;   a transceiver configured to transmit a control signal to an electronic device via the antenna; and   a processor configured to:
 determine an operating mode; 
 in response to determining that the operating mode is a first operating mode, cause the power supply to provide the power signal to the inductive coil; and 
 in response to determining that the operating mode is a second operating mode,
 receive the input signal from the user interface; and 
 generate a command signal that includes information indicative of the input signal; and 
 cause the transceiver to transmit a command signal to an electronic device. 
 
   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the user interface includes one or more buttons, wherein each of the one or more button corresponds to a selected action capable of being performed by the electronic device, and wherein the input signal includes information indicative of the selected action. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the command signal includes instructions for causing the electronic device to perform the selected action. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive a telemetry signal from the implanted unit via the inductive coil, and wherein, to determine the operating mode of the device, the processor is further configured to:
 determine whether the transceiver received the telemetry signal;   determine that the operating mode is the first operating mode in response to determining that the transceiver received the telemetry signal; and   determine that the operating mode is the second operating mode in response to determining that the transceiver did not receive telemetry signal.   
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 an audio transducer configured to receive a sound; and   a sound processor configured to:
 receive an audio signal from the audio transducer that includes information indicative of the sound; and 
 generate a stimulation signal by processing the audio signal, wherein the stimulation signal includes information indicative of a stimulus capable of allowing a recipient to perceive at least a portion of the sound; and 
 send the stimulation signal to the transceiver, wherein the transceiver is further configured to generate a modulated power signal by modulating the stimulation signal and the power signal, and wherein the inductive coil is further configured to transfer the modulated power signal. 
   
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising a sensor configured to determine a magnitude of a magnetic field between the device and the implanted unit, wherein, to determine the operating mode of the device, the processor is further configured to:
 receive a second signal from the sensor that includes information indicative of the magnitude of the magnetic field;   determine whether the magnitude of magnetic field exceeds a threshold level;   determine that the operating mode of the device is the first operating mode in response to determining that the magnitude of the magnetic field exceeds the threshold level; and   determine that the operating mode of the device is the second operating mode in response to determining that the magnitude of the magnetic field is below the threshold level.