Method and apparatus for versatile minimally invasive neuromodulators

Abstract

A medical apparatus for a patient includes an external system configured to transmit one or more transmission signals, each transmission signal having at least power or data. An implantable system is configured to receive the one or more transmission signals from the external system, and the external system includes a first external device with at least one external antenna configured to transmit a first transmission signal to the implantable system. The first transmission signal includes at least power or data, and an external transmitter is configured to drive the at least one external antenna. An external power supply is configured to provide power to at least the external transmitter, and an external controller is configured to control the external transmitter. A first implantable device includes at least one implantable antenna configured to receive the first transmission signal from the first external device. An implantable receiver is configured to receive the first transmission signal from the at least one implantable antenna. At least one implantable functional element is configured to interface with the patient. An implantable controller is configured to control the at least one implantable functional element. The medical apparatus is configured to neuromodulate tissue and/or record patient information.

1 - 192 . (canceled) 
     
     
         193 . A medical system for a patient, comprising:
 an external device configured to transmit power and a periodic signal to an implantable device; and   an implantable device configured to receive the power and the periodic signal from the external device, wherein the implantable device comprises at least one functional element configured to one or both of neuromodulate tissue of the patient and record patient information,   wherein the system is configured to enter a warning state when one or both of: the implantable device does not reply to the periodic signal and the implantable device does not receive the periodic signal.   
     
     
         194 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the external device is further configured to transmit data to the implantable device by combining a power carrier signal with a data signal. 
     
     
         195 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the implantable device further comprises an implantable antenna and is further configured to transmit data to the external device by varying a load coupled to the implantable antenna. 
     
     
         196 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the system is further configured to provide asynchronous transfer of data between the external device and the implantable device. 
     
     
         197 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the implantable device is further configured to maintain a timing of neuromodulation of the tissue of the patient based on the periodic signal. 
     
     
         198 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the system is further configured to maintain operation of a power and data link between the external device and the implantable device within a predetermined quality range based on the periodic signal. 
     
     
         199 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the external device is further configured to transmit data to the implantable device using an ASK modulated signal. 
     
     
         200 . The system of  claim 199 , wherein the ASK modulated signal comprises a pulse width, and wherein the data is encoded in the pulse width. 
     
     
         201 . The system of  claim 199 , wherein transmission of the data is reconfigurable. 
     
     
         202 . The system of  claim 201 , wherein the transmission of the data comprises an adjustable parameter comprising one or more of data rate, pulse width, and modulation depth. 
     
     
         203 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the implantable device is further configured to deliver stimulation to the tissue of the patient, and wherein the system is further configured to adjust the stimulation in real-time based on closed-loop feedback. 
     
     
         204 . The system of  claim 203 , wherein the system is further configured to adjust the stimulation based on performance of the implantable device. 
     
     
         205 . The system of  claim 203 , wherein the patient information comprises one or more patient parameters, and wherein the system is further configured to adjust the stimulation based on the one or more patient parameters. 
     
     
         206 . The system of  claim 203 , wherein the stimulation comprises a stimulation waveform, and wherein the external device is further configured to adjust one or more parameters of the stimulation waveform. 
     
     
         207 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the system is further configured to provide treatment for a medical condition comprising one or more of: medically refractory angina, a movement disorder, pain, chronic critical limb ischemia, complex regional pain syndrome, a condition treated using deep brain stimulation, medically refractory epilepsy, failed back surgery syndrome, fecal constipation, fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence, a urologic disorder, a gastric disorder, GERD, chronic indigestion, gastroparesis, obesity, diabetes, medically refractory headaches, migraine treatment, neuropathy, neuropathic pain, peripheral neuropathy, pelvic floor dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, and spasticity. 
     
     
         208 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the at least one functional element is configured to neuromodulate the tissue of the patient by delivering stimulation to the tissue of the patient, the stimulation comprising one or more of spinal cord stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, gastric stimulation, sacral nerve stimulation, auditory brainstem stimulation, occipital nerve stimulation, and peripheral nerve stimulation. 
     
     
         209 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the at least one functional element is configured to neuromodulate the tissue of the patient via one or more of nerve activation, inhibition of nerve activity, and inhibition of propagation of neural signaling. 
     
     
         210 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the periodic signal comprises a control signal configured to control a state of the implantable device. 
     
     
         211 . The system of  claim 210 , wherein the state of the implantable device comprises an active state and an inactive state. 
     
     
         212 . The system of  claim 210 , wherein the control signal is further configured to control a duty cycle of the implantable device.