Patent Grant
10933245
The present disclosure generally relates to medical devices, and more particularly to conducted communications between medical devices in a multi-device system.
Implantable medical devices are commonly used to monitor, diagnose and/or treat various conditions in the body. Such devices can include, for example, neuro-stimulators, diagnostic devices, chemical sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, etc. Pacing devices are another example. Pacing devices are used to treat patients suffering from various heart conditions. Many heart conditions can lead to rapid, irregular, and/or inefficient heart contractions. To help alleviate some of these heart conditions, various cardiac stimulating/sensor devices (e.g., pacemakers, defibrillators, etc.) are often implanted into a patient's body. Such devices are then used to monitor and provide electrical stimulation to the heart to help the heart operate in a more normal, efficient and/or safe manner.
Regardless of the type of implantable device, it is often desirable to establish communication with the implanted device. In some cases, conducted communication is used, which relies on electrical communication signals or pulses that “conducted” through the body. In some cases, such electrical communication signals or pulses can undesirably stimulated body tissue. What would be desirable is an improved conducted communication scheme that is less likely to stimulate body tissue.
The present disclosure generally relates to systems, devices, and methods for communicating with or between implantable medical devices. In a first illustrative embodiment, an implantable medical device for implantation into a patient may comprise a housing, a pulse generation circuit disposed at least partially within the housing, a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuit, the plurality of electrodes being exposed external to the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the pulse generation circuit. In some instances, the controller may be configured to command the pulse generation circuit to deliver a phasic conducted communication pulse via at least two of the plurality of electrodes. The phasic conducted communication pulse may comprise a first phase having a first polarity followed by a second phase having an opposite second polarity. The second phase may have a duration of less than 60 microseconds. In some cases, the first phase may have a duration of between five percent and eighty percent of the duration of the second phase.
Additionally, or alternatively, the first phase may have a first phase amplitude, where the absolute value of the first phase amplitude may be between 1 and 15 volts.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the second phase may have a second phase amplitude, where the absolute value of the second phase amplitude may be between 1 and 15 volts.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the first phase may have a first phase amplitude with an absolute value of between 2 and 7 volts, and the second phase may have a second phase amplitude with an absolute value of between 2 and 7 volts.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the first phase may have a first phase amplitude with an absolute value of between 1 and 4 volts, and the second phase may have a second phase amplitude with an absolute value of between 1 and 4 volts.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the second phase may have a duration of less than 60 microseconds.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the second phase may have a duration of less than 30 microseconds.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the second phase may have a duration of less than 20 microseconds.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the first phase may have a duration of between forty percent and sixty percent of the duration of the second phase.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the first phase and the second phase may each be a substantially rectangular pulse.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the first phase and the second phase may each be substantially a rectangular pulse, a saw tooth pulse, an exponential pulse, a trapezoid pulse, or a stepped pulse.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the phasic conducted communication pulse may comprise a third phase.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the third phase may have the first polarity.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the phasic conducted communication pulse may be substantially charge balanced.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the first illustrative embodiment, the phasic conducted communication pulse may have four or more phases.
In a second illustrative embodiment, a medical device may comprise a housing, a pulse generation circuit disposed at least partially within the housing, a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuit, the plurality of electrodes being exposed externally to the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the pulse generation circuit. In some instances, the controller may be configured to command the pulse generation circuit to deliver a phasic conducted communication pulse via at least two of the plurality of electrodes. Additionally, in some cases, the phasic conducted communication pulse may comprise at least three phases.
Additionally, or alternatively, with respect to the second illustrative embodiment, the phasic conducted communication pulse may comprise a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase, with each phase having a duration and an amplitude, and wherein the first phase and the third phase may have a first polarity and the second phase may have a second opposite polarity.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the second illustrative embodiment, the duration of the second phase may be less than 60 microseconds.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the second illustrative embodiment, the duration of the first phase of the phasic conducted communication pulse may be between five percent and eighty percent of the duration of the second phase of the phasic conducted communication pulse.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the second illustrative embodiment, the duration of the second phase may be less than 50 microseconds, and the duration of the first phase may be between forty percent and sixty percent of the duration of the second phase.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the second illustrative embodiment, the phasic conducted communication pulse may be substantially charge balanced.
Additionally, or alternatively, in any of the above embodiments with respect to the second illustrative embodiment, the phasic conducted communication pulse may have four or more phases, each of the four or more phases having a duration.
In a third illustrative embodiment, a medical device may comprise a housing, a plurality of electrodes coupled to the housing, and a communication circuit electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes. In at least some instances, the communication circuit may be configured to deliver a phasic conducted communication pulse via two or more of the plurality of electrodes for communicating information external to the medical device. In at least some cases, the phasic conducted communication pulse may comprises a first phase, followed by a second phase, followed by a third phase, where the first phase and the third phase have a first polarity, and the second phase has an opposite second polarity.
Additionally, or alternatively, with respect to the third illustrative embodiment, the second phase may have a duration of less than 60 microseconds, and the first phase may have a duration of between five percent and eighty percent of the duration of the second phase.
The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. Advantages and attainments, together with a more complete understanding of the disclosure, will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following description of various illustrative embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of embodiment in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the disclosure to the particular illustrative embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
The following description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered the same. The description and the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and methods for communicating with or between implantable medical devices such as heart stimulating devices, neuro-stimulators, diagnostic devices, chemical sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, etc. Merely for convenience, many of the examples described herein are directed at heart stimulating devices such as implantable pacemakers and/or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. The intention is not to limit the disclosure to implantable pacemakers and/or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Rather, the intention is to cover communication with or between any suitable implantable medical device.
As depicted in
Electrodes 114 may generally conduct electrical signals to and from LCP 100 and the surrounding tissue and/or blood. Such electrical signals can include communication signals, electrical stimulation pulses, and intrinsic cardiac electrical signals, to name a few. Intrinsic cardiac electrical signals may include electrical signals generated by the heart and may be represented by an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Electrodes 114 may include one or more biocompatible conductive materials such as various metals or alloys that are known to be safe for implantation within a human body. In some instances, electrodes 114 may be generally disposed on either end of LCP 100 and may be in electrical communication with one or more of modules 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110. In embodiments where electrodes 114 are secured directly to housing 120, an insulative material may electrically isolate the electrodes 114 from adjacent electrodes, housing 120, and/or other parts of LCP 100. In some instances, some or all of electrodes 114 may be spaced from housing 120 and connected to housing 120 and/or other components of LCP 100 through connecting wires. In such instances, the electrodes 114 may be placed on a tail (not shown) that extends out away from the housing 120. As shown in
Electrodes 114 and/or 114′ may assume any of a variety of sizes and/or shapes, and may be spaced at any of a variety of spacings. For example, electrodes 114 may have an outer diameter of two to twenty millimeters (mm). In other embodiments, electrodes 114 and/or 114′ may have a diameter of two, three, five, seven millimeters (mm), or any other suitable diameter, dimension and/or shape. Example lengths for electrodes 114 and/or 114′ may include, for example, one, three, five, ten millimeters (mm), or any other suitable length. As used herein, the length is a dimension of electrodes 114 and/or 114′ that extends away from the outer surface of the housing 120. In some instances, at least some of electrodes 114 and/or 114′ may be spaced from one another by a distance of twenty, thirty, forty, fifty millimeters (mm), or any other suitable spacing. The electrodes 114 and/or 114′ of a single device may have different sizes with respect to each other, and the spacing and/or lengths of the electrodes on the device may or may not be uniform.
In the embodiment shown, communication module 102 may be electrically coupled to electrodes 114 and/or 114′ and may be configured to deliver communication pulses to tissues of the patient for communicating with other devices such as sensors, programmers, other medical devices, and/or the like. Communication signals, as used herein, may be any modulated signal that conveys information to another device, either by itself or in conjunction with one or more other modulated signals. In some embodiments, communication signals may be limited to sub-threshold signals that do not result in capture of the heart yet still convey information. The communication signals may be delivered to another device that is located either external or internal to the patient's body. In some instances, the communication may take the form of distinct communication pulses separated by various amounts of time. In some of these cases, the timing between successive pulses may convey information. Communication module 102 may additionally be configured to sense for communication signals delivered by other devices, which may be located external or internal to the patient's body.
Communication module 102 may communicate to help accomplish one or more desired functions. Some example functions include delivering sensed data, using communicated data for determining occurrences of events such as arrhythmias, coordinating delivery of electrical stimulation therapy, and/or other functions. In some cases, LCP 100 may use communication signals to communicate raw information, processed information, messages and/or commands, and/or other data. Raw information may include information such as sensed electrical signals (e.g. a sensed ECG), signals gathered from coupled sensors, and the like. In some embodiments, the processed information may include signals that have been filtered using one or more signal processing techniques. Processed information may also include parameters and/or events that are determined by the LCP 100 and/or another device, such as a determined heart rate, timing of determined heartbeats, timing of other determined events, determinations of threshold crossings, expirations of monitored time periods, accelerometer signals, activity level parameters, blood-oxygen parameters, blood pressure parameters, heart sound parameters, and the like. Messages and/or commands may include instructions or the like directing another device to take action, notifications of imminent actions of the sending device, requests for reading from the receiving device, requests for writing data to the receiving device, information messages, and/or other messages commands.
In at least some embodiments, communication module 102 (or LCP 100) may further include switching circuitry to selectively connect one or more of electrodes 114 and/or 114′ to communication module 102 in order to select which electrodes 114 and/or 114′ that communication module 102 delivers communication pulses. It is contemplated that communication module 102 may be communicating with other devices via conducted signals, radio frequency (RF) signals, optical signals, acoustic signals, inductive coupling, and/or any other suitable communication methodology. Where communication module 102 generates electrical communication signals, communication module 102 may include one or more capacitor elements and/or other charge storage devices to aid in generating and delivering communication signals. In the embodiment shown, communication module 102 may use energy stored in energy storage module 112 to generate the communication signals. In at least some examples, communication module 102 may include a switching circuit that is connected to energy storage module 112 and, with the switching circuitry, may connect energy storage module 112 to one or more of electrodes 114/114′ to generate the communication signals.
As shown in
LCP 100 may further include an electrical sensing module 106 and mechanical sensing module 108. Electrical sensing module 106 may be configured to sense intrinsic cardiac electrical signals conducted from electrodes 114 and/or 114′ to electrical sensing module 106.
For example, electrical sensing module 106 may be electrically connected to one or more electrodes 114 and/or 114′ and electrical sensing module 106 may be configured to receive cardiac electrical signals conducted through electrodes 114 and/or 114′ via a sensor amplifier or the like. In some embodiments, the cardiac electrical signals may represent local information from the chamber in which LCP 100 is implanted. For instance, if LCP 100 is implanted within a ventricle of the heart, cardiac electrical signals sensed by LCP 100 through electrodes 114 and/or 114′ may represent ventricular cardiac electrical signals. Mechanical sensing module 108 may include, or be electrically connected to, various sensors, such as accelerometers, including multi-axis accelerometers such as two- or three-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, including multi-axis gyroscopes such as two- or three-axis gyroscopes, blood pressure sensors, heart sound sensors, piezoelectric sensors, blood-oxygen sensors, and/or other sensors which measure one or more physiological parameters of the heart and/or patient. Mechanical sensing module 108, when present, may gather signals from the sensors indicative of the various physiological parameters. Both electrical sensing module 106 and mechanical sensing module 108 may be connected to processing module 110 and may provide signals representative of the sensed cardiac electrical signals and/or physiological signals to processing module 110. Although described with respect to
Processing module 110 may be configured to direct the operation of LCP 100 and may, in some embodiments, be termed a controller. For example, processing module 110 may be configured to receive cardiac electrical signals from electrical sensing module 106 and/or physiological signals from mechanical sensing module 108. Based on the received signals, processing module 110 may determine, for example, occurrences and types of arrhythmias and other determinations such as whether LCP 100 has become dislodged. Processing module 110 may further receive information from communication module 102. In some embodiments, processing module 110 may additionally use such received information to determine occurrences and types of arrhythmias and/or and other determinations such as whether LCP 100 has become dislodged. In still some additional embodiments, LCP 100 may use the received information instead of the signals received from electrical sensing module 106 and/or mechanical sensing module 108—for instance if the received information is deemed to be more accurate than the signals received from electrical sensing module 106 and/or mechanical sensing module 108 or if electrical sensing module 106 and/or mechanical sensing module 108 have been disabled or omitted from LCP 100.
After determining an occurrence of an arrhythmia, processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to generate electrical stimulation pulses in accordance with one or more electrical stimulation therapies to treat the determined arrhythmia. For example, processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to generate pacing pulses with varying parameters and in different sequences to effectuate one or more electrical stimulation therapies. As one example, in controlling pulse generator module 104 to deliver bradycardia pacing therapy, processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to deliver pacing pulses designed to capture the heart of the patient at a regular interval to help prevent the heart of a patient from falling below a predetermined threshold. In some cases, the rate of pacing may be increased with an increased activity level of the patient (e.g. rate adaptive pacing). For instance, processing module 110 may monitor one or more physiological parameters of the patient which may indicate a need for an increased heart rate (e.g. due to increased metabolic demand). Processing module 110 may then increase the rate at which pulse generator module 104 generates electrical stimulation pulses. Adjusting the rate of delivery of the electrical stimulation pulses based on the one or more physiological parameters may extend the battery life of LCP 100 by only requiring higher rates of delivery of electrical stimulation pulses when the physiological parameters indicate there is a need for increased cardiac output. Additionally, adjusting the rate of delivery of the electrical stimulation pulses may increase a comfort level of the patient by more closely matching the rate of delivery of electrical stimulation pulses with the cardiac output need of the patient.
For ATP therapy, processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to deliver pacing pulses at a rate faster than an intrinsic heart rate of a patient in attempt to force the heart to beat in response to the delivered pacing pulses rather than in response to intrinsic cardiac electrical signals. Once the heart is following the pacing pulses, processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to reduce the rate of delivered pacing pulses down to a safer level. In CRT, processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to deliver pacing pulses in coordination with another device to cause the heart to contract more efficiently. In cases where pulse generator module 104 is capable of generating defibrillation and/or cardioversion pulses for defibrillation/cardioversion therapy, processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to generate such defibrillation and/or cardioversion pulses. In some cases, processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to generate electrical stimulation pulses to provide electrical stimulation therapies different than those examples described above.
Aside from controlling pulse generator module 104 to generate different types of electrical stimulation pulses and in different sequences, in some embodiments, processing module 110 may also control pulse generator module 104 to generate the various electrical stimulation pulses with varying pulse parameters. For example, each electrical stimulation pulse may have a pulse width and a pulse amplitude. Processing module 110 may control pulse generator module 104 to generate the various electrical stimulation pulses with specific pulse widths and pulse amplitudes. For example, processing module 110 may cause pulse generator module 104 to adjust the pulse width and/or the pulse amplitude of electrical stimulation pulses if the electrical stimulation pulses are not effectively capturing the heart. Such control of the specific parameters of the various electrical stimulation pulses may help LCP 100 provide more effective delivery of electrical stimulation therapy.
In some embodiments, processing module 110 may further control communication module 102 to send information to other devices. For example, processing module 110 may control communication module 102 to generate one or more communication signals for communicating with other devices of a system of devices. For instance, processing module 110 may control communication module 102 to generate communication signals in particular pulse sequences, where the specific sequences convey different information. Communication module 102 may also receive communication signals for potential action by processing module 110.
In further embodiments, processing module 110 may control switching circuitry by which communication module 102 and pulse generator module 104 deliver communication signals and/or electrical stimulation pulses to tissue of the patient. As described above, both communication module 102 and pulse generator module 104 may include circuitry for connecting one or more electrodes 114 and/or 114′ to communication module 102 and/or pulse generator module 104 so those modules may deliver the communication signals and electrical stimulation pulses to tissue of the patient. The specific combination of one or more electrodes by which communication module 102 and/or pulse generator module 104 deliver communication signals and electrical stimulation pulses may influence the reception of communication signals and/or the effectiveness of electrical stimulation pulses. Although it was described that each of communication module 102 and pulse generator module 104 may include switching circuitry, in some embodiments, LCP 100 may have a single switching module connected to the communication module 102, the pulse generator module 104, and electrodes 114 and/or 114′. In such embodiments, processing module 110 may control the switching module to connect modules 102/104 and electrodes 114/114′ as appropriate.
In some embodiments, processing module 110 may include a pre-programmed chip, such as a very-large-scale integration (VLSI) chip or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In such embodiments, the chip may be pre-programmed with control logic in order to control the operation of LCP 100. By using a pre-programmed chip, processing module 110 may use less power than other programmable circuits while able to maintain basic functionality, thereby potentially increasing the battery life of LCP 100. In other instances, processing module 110 may include a programmable microprocessor or the like. Such a programmable microprocessor may allow a user to adjust the control logic of LCP 100 after manufacture, thereby allowing for greater flexibility of LCP 100 than when using a pre-programmed chip. In still other embodiments, processing module 110 may not be a single component. For example, processing module 110 may include multiple components positioned at disparate locations within LCP 100 in order to perform the various described functions. For example, certain functions may be performed in one component of processing module 110, while other functions are performed in a separate component of processing module 110.
Processing module 110, in additional embodiments, may include a memory circuit and processing module 110 may store information on and read information from the memory circuit. In other embodiments, LCP 100 may include a separate memory circuit (not shown) that is in communication with processing module 110, such that processing module 110 may read and write information to and from the separate memory circuit. The memory circuit, whether part of processing module 110 or separate from processing module 110, may be volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination of volatile memory and non-volatile memory.
Energy storage module 112 may provide a power source to LCP 100 for its operations. In some embodiments, energy storage module 112 may be a non-rechargeable lithium-based battery. In other embodiments, the non-rechargeable battery may be made from other suitable materials. In some embodiments, energy storage module 112 may include a rechargeable battery. In still other embodiments, energy storage module 112 may include other types of energy storage devices such as capacitors or super capacitors.
To implant LCP 100 inside a patient's body, an operator (e.g., a physician, clinician, etc.), may fix LCP 100 to the cardiac tissue of the patient's heart. To facilitate fixation, LCP 100 may include one or more anchors 116. The one or more anchors 116 are shown schematically in
In some examples, LCP 100 may be configured to be implanted on a patient's heart or within a chamber of the patient's heart. For instance, LCP 100 may be implanted within any of a left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, or right ventricle of a patient's heart. By being implanted within a specific chamber, LCP 100 may be able to sense cardiac electrical signals originating or emanating from the specific chamber that other devices may not be able to sense with such resolution. Where LCP 100 is configured to be implanted on a patient's heart, LCP 100 may be configured to be implanted on or adjacent to one of the chambers of the heart, or on or adjacent to a path along which intrinsically generated cardiac electrical signals generally follow. In these examples, LCP 100 may also have an enhanced ability to sense localized intrinsic cardiac electrical signals and deliver localized electrical stimulation therapy. In embodiments where LCP 100 includes an accelerometer, LCP 100 may additionally be able to sense the motion of the cardiac wall to which LCP 100 is attached.
While MD 200 may be another leadless device such as shown in
Leads 212, in some embodiments, may additionally contain one or more sensors, such as accelerometers, blood pressure sensors, heart sound sensors, blood-oxygen sensors, and/or other sensors which are configured to measure one or more physiological parameters of the heart and/or patient. In such embodiments, mechanical sensing module 208 may be in electrical communication with leads 212 and may receive signals generated from such sensors.
While not required, in some embodiments MD 200 may be an implantable medical device. In such embodiments, housing 220 of MD 200 may be implanted in, for example, a transthoracic region of the patient. Housing 220 may generally include any of a number of known materials that are safe for implantation in a human body and may, when implanted, hermetically seal the various components of MD 200 from fluids and tissues of the patient's body. In such embodiments, leads 212 may be implanted at one or more various locations within the patient, such as within the heart of the patient, adjacent to the heart of the patient, adjacent to the spine of the patient, or any other desired location.
In some embodiments, MD 200 may be an implantable cardiac pacemaker (ICP). In these embodiments, MD 200 may have one or more leads, for example leads 212, which are implanted on or within the patient's heart. The one or more leads 212 may include one or more electrodes 214 that are in contact with cardiac tissue and/or blood of the patient's heart. MD 200 may be configured to sense intrinsically generated cardiac electrical signals and determine, for example, one or more cardiac arrhythmias based on analysis of the sensed signals. MD 200 may be configured to deliver CRT, ATP therapy, bradycardia therapy, and/or other therapy types via leads 212 implanted within the heart. In some embodiments, MD 200 may additionally be configured to provide defibrillation/cardioversion therapy.
In some instances, MD 200 may be an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). In such embodiments, MD 200 may include one or more leads implanted within a patient's heart. MD 200 may also be configured to sense electrical cardiac signals, determine occurrences of tachyarrhythmias based on the sensed electrical cardiac signals, and deliver defibrillation and/or cardioversion therapy in response to determining an occurrence of a tachyarrhythmia (for example by delivering defibrillation and/or cardioversion pulses to the heart of the patient). In other embodiments, MD 200 may be a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (SICD). In embodiments where MD 200 is an SICD, one of leads 212 may be a subcutaneously implanted lead. In at least some embodiments where MD 200 is an SICD, MD 200 may include only a single lead which is implanted subcutaneously but outside of the chest cavity, however this is not required.
In some embodiments, MD 200 may not be an implantable medical device. Rather, MD 200 may be a device external to the patient's body, and electrodes 214 may be skin-electrodes that are placed on a patient's body. In such embodiments, MD 200 may be able to sense surface electrical signals (e.g. electrical cardiac signals that are generated by the heart or electrical signals generated by a device implanted within a patient's body and conducted through the body to the skin). MD 200 may further be configured to deliver various types of electrical stimulation therapy, including, for example, defibrillation therapy via skin-electrodes 214.
Various devices of system 300 may communicate via communication pathway 308. For example, LCPs 302 and/or 304 may sense intrinsic cardiac electrical signals and may communicate such signals to one or more other devices 302/304, 306, and 310 of system 300 via communication pathway 308. In one embodiment, one or more of devices 302/304 may receive such signals and, based on the received signals, determine an occurrence of an arrhythmia. In some cases, device or devices 302/304 may communicate such determinations to one or more other devices 306 and 310 of system 300. In some cases, one or more of devices 302/304, 306, and 310 of system 300 may take action based on the communicated determination of an arrhythmia, such as by delivering a suitable electrical stimulation to the heart of the patient. One or more of devices 302/304, 306, and 310 of system 300 may additionally communicate command or response messages via communication pathway 308. The command messages may cause a receiving device to take a particular action whereas response messages may include requested information or a confirmation that a receiving device did, in fact, receive a communicated message or data.
It is contemplated that the various devices of system 300 may communicate via pathway 308 using RF signals, inductive coupling, optical signals, acoustic signals, or any other signals suitable for communication. Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the various devices of system 300 may communicate via pathway 308 using multiple signal types. For instance, other sensors/device 310 may communicate with external device 306 using a first signal type (e.g. RF communication) but communicate with LCPs 302/304 using a second signal type (e.g. conducted communication). Further, in some embodiments, communication between devices may be limited. For instance, as described above, in some embodiments, LCPs 302/304 may communicate with external device 306 only through other sensors/devices 310, where LCPs 302/304 send signals to other sensors/devices 310, and other sensors/devices 310 relay the received signals to external device 306.
In some cases, the various devices of system 300 may communicate via pathway 308 using conducted communication signals. Accordingly, devices of system 300 may have components that allow for such conducted communication. For instance, the devices of system 300 may be configured to transmit conducted communication signals (e.g. a voltage and/or current waveform punctuated with current and/or voltage pulses, referred herein as electrical communication pulses) into the patient's body via one or more electrodes of a transmitting device, and may receive the conducted communication signals via one or more electrodes of a receiving device. The patient's body may “conduct” the conducted communication signals from the one or more electrodes of the transmitting device to the electrodes of the receiving device in the system 300. In such embodiments, the delivered conducted communication signals may differ from pacing pulses, defibrillation and/or cardioversion pulses, or other electrical stimulation therapy signals. For example, the devices of system 300 may deliver electrical communication pulses at an amplitude/pulse width that is sub-threshold. That is, the communication pulses have an amplitude/pulse width designed to not capture the heart. In some cases, the amplitude/pulse width of the delivered electrical communication pulses may be above the capture threshold of the heart, but may be delivered during a refractory period of the heart and/or may be incorporated in or modulated onto a pacing pulse, if desired.
Additionally, unlike normal electrical stimulation therapy pulses, the electrical communication pulses may be delivered in specific sequences which convey information to receiving devices. For instance, delivered electrical communication pulses may be modulated in any suitable manner to encode communicated information. In some cases, the communication pulses may be pulse width modulated and/or amplitude modulated. Alternatively, or in addition, the time between pulses may be modulated to encode desired information. In some cases, a predefined sequence of communication pulses may represent a corresponding symbol (e.g. a logic “1” symbol, a logic “0” symbol, an ATP therapy trigger symbol, etc.). In some cases, conducted communication pulses may be voltage pulses, current pulses, bi-phasic voltage pulses, bi-phasic current pulses, tri-phasic voltage pulses, tri-phasic current pulses, quad-phasic voltage pulses, quad-phasic current pulses, hex-phasic voltage pulses, hex-phasic current pulses, or any other suitable electrical pulse as desired, as further detailed herein.
In other embodiments of system 400, LCP 402 may be positioned in the left ventricle, right atrium, or left atrium of the heart, as desired. In still other embodiments, LCP 402 may be implanted externally adjacent to heart 410 or even remote from heart 410.
Medical device system 400 may also include external support device 420. External support device 420 can be used to perform functions such as device identification, device programming and/or transfer of real-time and/or stored data between devices using one or more of the communication techniques described herein, or other functions involving communication with one or more devices of system 400. As one example, communication between external support device 420 and pulse generator 406 can be performed via a wireless mode, and communication between pulse generator 406 and LCP 402 can be performed via a conducted communication mode. In some embodiments, communication between LCP 402 and external support device 420 is accomplished by sending communication information through pulse generator 406. However, in other embodiments, communication between the LCP 402 and external support device 420 may be via a communication module.
Generally, the phasic conducted communication pulses described herein may be either voltage pulses or current pulses. In a voltage pulse, the voltage amplitude is controlled and the current is dependent on the voltage amplitude and the resistance of the transmission medium. In a current pulse, the current amplitude is controlled and the voltage is dependent on the current amplitude and the resistance of the transmission medium. In some examples, the phasic conducted communication pulses may be combinations of voltage pulses and current pulses (e.g. some of the phases include a voltage pulse while other phases include a current pulse). It is contemplated that any of the devices described with respect to
First phases 505a, 505b may have amplitudes 506a, 506b and abbreviated pulse widths 502a, 502b. Second phases 507a, 507b may have amplitudes 508a, 508b and un-abbreviated pulse widths 504a, 504b. In these embodiments, pulse widths 502a, 502b of the first phases 505a, 505b may be considered ‘abbreviate pulse widths’ because their length are shown to be less than the length of pulse widths 504a, 504b of the second phases 507a, 507b. For example, abbreviated pulse widths 502a, 502b of the first phases 505a, 505b may have values that range between about five percent and about eighty percent of the value of un-abbreviated pulse widths 504a, 504b of the second phases 507a, 507b. The term “about” means ±10% of the specified value.
In some embodiments, pulse widths 504a, 504b of the second phases 507a, 507b may have values that range between about one microseconds and about seventy-five microseconds. In more specific embodiments, pulse widths 504a, 504b may have values that range between about one microseconds and about thirty microseconds, or may be about five microseconds, about ten microseconds, about fifteen microseconds, about twenty microseconds, about twenty-five microseconds, about thirty microseconds, about thirty-five microseconds, about forty microseconds, or any other suitable value. For a voltage pulse, the pulse width is the interval of time between the two times the voltage crosses 50% of the amplitude of the voltage pulse. For a current pulse, the pulse width is the interval of time between the two times the current crosses 50% of the amplitude of the current pulse.
Abbreviated pulse widths 502a, 502b may have values that range between about five percent and about eighty percent of the value of pulse widths 504a, 504b. In more specific embodiments, abbreviated pulse widths 502a, 502b may have values that range between about ten percent and about fifty percent of the value of pulse widths 504a, 504b, or be about ten percent, about twenty percent, about twenty-five percent, about thirty percent, about forty percent, about fifty percent, or any other suitable percentage of the value of pulse widths 504a, 504b.
In some cases, pulse widths 504a and 504b (or abbreviated pulse widths 502a and 502b), themselves, may not have exactly the same values. For instance, the values of pulse widths 504a, 504b (or abbreviated pulse widths 502a, 502b) may vary between successively delivered phasic conducted communication pulses. In some cases the values that differ between successively delivered phasic conducted communication pulses may vary by less than about ten percent.
In some instances, amplitudes 506a, 506b, 508a, and 508b may all be equal or about equal with amplitudes 508a, 508b having polarities (e.g. positive magnitude or negative magnitude relative to neutral or ground) opposite of amplitudes 506a, 506b. In general, amplitudes 506a, 506b, 508a, and 508b may be any suitable value, but in some specific embodiments, amplitudes 506a, 506b, 508a, and 508b may have values that range between about one volt and about fifteen volts. In further embodiments, amplitudes 506a, 506b, 508a, and 508b may have values that range between about two volts and about seven volts, or between about one volt and about four volts, or be equal to about one volt, about two volts, about three volts, about four volts, about five volts, about six volts, about seven volts, or any other suitable value. The specific amplitude values described with respect to the phasic conducted communication pulses may represent either peak amplitudes or Root Mean Square (RMS) amplitudes.
In some cases, the amplitudes 506a, 506b may not be equal to amplitudes 508a, 508b, respectively, but for differences in polarity. For instance, in at least some embodiments, amplitudes 506a, 506b may have values that are between about seventy-five percent and about ninety-nine percent of the values of amplitudes 508a, 508b, respectively. In still further embodiments, amplitudes 508a, 508b may have the smaller values. In still further additional or alternative embodiments, amplitudes 506a, 506b, 508a, and/or 508b may vary between successively delivered phasic conducted communication pulses. For instance, the values of amplitudes 506a, 506b, 508a, and 508b may vary by less than about ten percent between successively delivered phasic conducted communication pulses.
Alternatively, or in addition to that described above, it is contemplated that the amplitudes 505a, 505b of the abbreviated phases 505a, 505b may differ from the amplitudes 508a, 508b of unabbreviated phases 507a, 507b in order to help control charge accumulation on excitable tissue and reduce the likelihood that the unabbreviated phases 507a, 507b will stimulate the tissue. In one specific example, with reference to
Although
Although
In some cases, devices of a system using the phasic conducted communication pulses and the techniques described herein may identify communication symbols based on the length of time between phasic conducted communication pulses 530a-d. For example, if the time between two consecutive phasic conducted communication pulses falls within a first time range, then a first symbol may be identified by the receiver. If the time between two phasic conducted communication pulses falls within a second time range, then a second symbol may be identified by the receiver. If the time between two phasic conducted communication pulses falls within a third time range, then a third symbol may be identified by the receiver, and so on. In one example, a sync symbol is identified when the time between two phasic conducted communication pulses falls within a range of 800-1100 microseconds, a “1” symbol is identified when the time between two phasic conducted communication pulses falls within a range of 550-700 microseconds, and a “0” symbol is identified when the time between two phasic conducted communication pulses falls within a range of 350-450 microseconds. In some cases, the “0” and “1” symbols correspond to “0” and “1” bits, respectively, as the devices of the system may operate in a base two number system. These are just examples. It is contemplated that any number of different symbols may be included in the communication protocol, with different symbols assigned to different times or time ranges. In some case, if a phasic conducted communication pulse is not followed by another phasic conducted communication pulse within a threshold amount of time (e.g. time period 538), an end or frame (EOF) symbol may be identified. The threshold amount of time (e.g. time period 538) may be, for example, 1250 microseconds or more.
In some cases, the time between phasic conducted communication pulses may be tracked using an internal clock. It is contemplated that the sending device may include an internal clock that oscillates at a clock frequency. Likewise, the receiving device may include an internal clock that oscillates at the same (or different) clock frequency. When so provided, each symbol to be communicated may be assigned a different number of clock cycles between phasic conducted communication pulses. For example, a synchronization symbol may be assigned 24 clock cycles, which for a clock frequency of 25.6 kHz, would correspond to a delay between phasic conducted communication pulses of about 938 microseconds. A range may be provided to help compensate for noise, temperature changes, voltage variances, clock drift, etc. The range may be, for example, +/−10%, or in the example given above, may be from about 844 microseconds to about 1032 microseconds. A “1” symbol may be assigned to 16 clock cycles, which for a clock frequency of 25.6 kHz, would corresponds to a delay between phasic conducted communication pulses of about 625 microseconds. A range may be provided around this figure to help compensate for noise, temperature changes, voltage variances, clock drift, etc. The range may be, for example, +/−10%, or in the example given above, may be from about 563 microseconds to about 688 microseconds. Likewise, a “0” symbol may be assigned to 10 clock cycles, which for a clock frequency of 25.6 kHz, would correspond to a delay between phasic conducted communication pulses of about 391 microseconds. A range may be provided around this figure to help compensate for noise, temperature changes, voltage variances, clock drift, etc.
To transmit a desired symbol, the sending device may provide a first phasic conducted communication pulse, then count the number of clock cycles that corresponds to the desired symbol (e.g. 16 clock cycles for a “1” symbol), and then provide a phasic conducted communication pulse. When the receiving device receives the first phasic conducted communication pulse, the receiving device may start counting internal clock cycles. When the second phasic conducted communication pulse is received, the receiving device may stop counting clock cycles. The receiving device may then compare the number of counted internal clock cycles to the number of clock cycles assigned to each symbol. When a match is found, the desired symbol is identified by the receiving device.
In some cases, the accuracy of the internal clocks in the sending device and/or receiving device may degrade over time. Due to this degradation, the devices of the system may begin to determine lengths of time differently with respect to absolute lengths of time, and possibly with respect to each other if the clocks of the devices degrade differently with respect to each other. Accordingly, in examples where time periods 532, 534, 536, and 538 are ranges of times, the devices of the system may still correctly interpret symbols even after some level of clock degradation.
In some cases, the devices of the system may be configured to reconfigure their internal clocks on a periodic or other basis. For example, a first device may broadcast a beginning calibration signal, an ending calibration signal, and the length of time between the two signals as determined by the broadcasting device. Each other device may then calibrate their internal clocks so that the time period between the two calibration signals is equal to the length of time sent by the broadcasting device. Such a reconfiguration may help ensure that a clock of a device does not drift too far relative to that of other devices of the system such that the device becomes functionally inoperative.
Whatever the exact lengths of time periods 532, 534, 536, and 538, in some examples, time period 532 may be longer than either of time periods 534 and 536. In such examples, this arrangement may prevent accidental transmission of one or more symbols from one device to another device, or a device interpreting noise as communication of one or more symbols. For instance, the devices of the system may transmit phasic conducted communication pulses to communicate a synchronization symbol before transmitting one or more other symbols, and receiving devices may ignore any other symbols received before receiving a synchronization symbol. In some situations, a receiving device may receive a first, true phasic conducted communication pulse but then receive noise after a length of time shorter than time period 532. If the noise is similar in morphology to a phasic conducted communication pulse, the receiving device may interpret the noise as a phasic conducted communication pulse. However, since the noise occurred after a shorter length of time than time period 532, even if the noise occurred at a length of time indicating a “0” symbol or a “1” symbol, the receiving device would ignore those symbols as the receiving device had not yet received a synchronization symbol. In this manner, the devices of the system may suppress erroneously transmitted or falsely interpreted symbols.
In some instances, a blanking period may be applied by the receiving device immediately following receiving each phasic conducted communication pulse. During the blanking period, the receiving device may ignore any received communication signals. This may help further reduce noise that might arise immediately after a phasic conducted communication pulse from being interpreted as a valid phasic conducted communication pulse. The blanking period may be anywhere between one-quarter to three-quarters the length of time period 532, or any other suitable length of time. In one example, the blanking period may be, for example about 250 microseconds. In some cases, the sending device may apply a similar blanking period, during and/or following the transmission of a phasic conducted communication pulse. Such a blanking period may help prevent the circuitry of the sending device, which senses for phasic conducted communication pulses from other devices, from sensing the phasic conducted communication pulses generated by the sending device.
In
In some examples, the devices of the system are continuously (although possibly punctuated by blanking periods) listening for phasic conducted communication pulses. That is, the devices of the system may not send out wake-up signals or establish specific communication connections before sending out phasic conducted communication pulses to other devices. Instead, the devices of the system may rely on synchronization pulses as a signal to the other devices of the system that the sending device is sending a message. In some cases, an EOF symbol may be a signal that the sending device has communicated the entire message.
In the example of
In some of these embodiments, the devices of the system may ensure that the same total amount of positive magnitude energy (e.g. voltage or current) is delivered into the body of the patient during communication as negative magnitude energy. This may help ensure that the communication scheme is charge balanced. Although, in some embodiments, the communication scheme may not be charge balanced. A communication scheme may be considered substantially charge balanced where the total area under the curves of the positive magnitude phases of the phasic conducted communication pulses of a sent or received communication sequence are within ten percent, either above or below, the total area of the negative magnitude phases of the phasic conducted communication pulses of the sent or received communication sequence.
In order to effect a charge balanced, or substantially charge balanced, communication sequence, a sending device may invert the polarity of every other delivered phasic conducted communication pulse. For instance, in the example described above, phasic conducted communication pulse 530a may look like phasic conducted communication pulse 501, and communication pulse 530b may look like phasic conducted communication pulse 503, e.g. having opposite polarity compared to phasic conducted communication pulse 501. Accordingly, where phasic conducted communication pulses 530a, 530b have the same dimensions with respect to each of their respective phases, but flip the polarity of each of the phases, any string of an even number of phasic conducted communication pulses will be charge balanced, and any string of an odd number of phasic conducted communication pulses, while not perfectly charge balanced, will be substantially charge balanced. Alternatively, a last phasic conducted communication pulses may be appended to any string of an odd number of phasic conducted communication pulses to create an even numbered string.
The example of
As with the example of
As can be seen in
Additionally, phases 557a and 559a of phasic conducted communication pulse 551 may have the same amplitude, amplitude 560a, while phase 558a has amplitude 555a. In some embodiments, amplitudes 560a and 555a may be equal but opposite in magnitude (e.g. opposite polarity about neutral or ground). However, in other embodiments, amplitudes 560a and 555a may differ, sometimes by less than ten percent. In some cases, amplitudes 560b and 555b may be equal but opposite in magnitude (e.g. opposite polarity about neutral or ground). However, in other embodiments, amplitudes 560b and 555b may differ, sometimes by less than ten percent. In some cases, phases 557a and 559a may have the same or different amplitudes, but both still having positive magnitude amplitudes (e.g. same polarity). In some cases, the amplitudes of phases 557a and 559a may differ by less than ten percent.
In each of the embodiments of
Where abbreviated pulse widths 562a, 562b and 568a, 568b are equal to each other and pulse widths 564a, 564b, and 566a, 566b are equal to each other, phasic conducted communication pulses 561, 563 will be charge balanced as the areas under first phases 571 and fourth phases 577 will equal the areas under second phases 573 and third phases 575. However, in other embodiments, there may be variations between different phases of phasic conducted communication pulses 561, 563. In these embodiments, where there is a difference of less than ten percent between the areas under first phases 571 and fourth phases 577 and the areas under second phases 573 and fourth phases 577, phasic conducted communication pulses 561, 563 may still be considered substantially charge balanced. Over time, these small differences may not adversely impact the patient in which the devices using phasic conducted communication pulses 561, 563 are implanted.
Additional illustrative charged balanced phasic conducted communication pulses are depicted in
In at least some embodiments, pulse widths 582a, 582b, 584a, 584b, 590a, 590b, and 597a, 597b may be abbreviated pulse widths, to one degree or another. For instance, abbreviated pulse widths 584a, 584b and 590a, 590b may have similar values and/or proportions to those described with respect to abbreviated pulse widths 502a, 502b. Abbreviated pulse widths 582a, 582b and 597a, 597b may have different values or proportions. For instance, abbreviated pulse widths 584a, 584b and 590a, 590b may have values that range between about five percent and about eighty percent of the value of pulse widths 586a, 586b and/or 588a, 588b. In more specific embodiments, abbreviated pulse widths 582a, 582b and 597a, 597b may have values that range between about ten percent and about fifty percent of the value of pulse widths 586a, 586b and/or 597a, 597b or be about ten percent, about twenty percent, about twenty-five percent, about thirty percent, about forty percent, about fifty percent, or any other suitable percentage of the value of pulse widths 586a, 586b and/or 597a, 597b. Abbreviated pulse widths 582a, 582b and 597, on the other hand, may have values that range between about one percent and about twenty-five percent of the values of pulse widths 586a, 586b and/or 597a, 597b.
In a similar manner to phasic conducted communication pulses 561, 563, phasic conducted communication pulses 581, 583 may be charge balanced when the phases 591a-593a and 591b-593b having a first polarity are symmetrical with the corresponding phases 594a-596a and 594b-596b having a second opposite polarity. However, even in embodiments where the phases having the first polarity are not perfectly symmetrical with the phases having the second polarity, phasic conducted communication pulses 581, 583 may still be considered substantially charge balanced if the total area of the phases having the first polarity is within about ten percent of the total area of the phases having the second polarity.
The specific values for the pulse widths of the different disclosed phasic conducted communication pulses may be chosen based on a study carried out on a canine.
Graph 600 depicts lines 601, 603, 605, 607, 609, and 611 on a log-log plot of pulse widths (x-axis) versus the amplitude at which the pulse caused stimulation (i.e. capture) of the heart tissue. Line 601 represents results for a mono-phasic pulse having a first polarity (cathodic polarity) while line 603 represents results for a mono-phasic pulse having a second polarity (anodic polarity), which is opposite the first polarity. Lines 605 and 607 depict results for bi-phasic pulses having opposite polarities, and lines 609 and 611 depict results for quad-phasic pulses having opposite polarities.
The pulse width duration values of the x-axis of graph 600 represent the values for the non-abbreviated pulse width. For instance, with respect to the quad-phasic pulses, the pulse width duration values correspond to the values of pulse widths 564, 566 of quad-phasic pulses 561, 563. For the mono-phasic pulses, the pulse width duration equals the total pulse width of the entire pulse. For the bi-phasic pulses, the pulse width duration values correspond to one half of the total pulse width, as the biphasic pulses used in the study had two equal duration phases, unlike the bi-phasic pulses of the present disclosure that have an initial pulse width an abbreviated pulse width. For the quad-phasic pulse, the first and fourth phases had abbreviated pulse widths relative to the second and third phases. The second and third phases had substantially equal pulse widths, and the first and fourth phases had pulse widths of about one-half the pulse widths of the second and third phases.
As can be seen in graph 600, at relatively long pulse widths in region 602, the different pulses all cause stimulation of heart tissue at relatively similar amplitudes, e.g. between about 500 mV and about 1 V, with the mono-phasic cathodic pulses having the highest amplitude that does not cause simulation. In this region, the pulse widths are between about 250 microseconds to about 500 microseconds.
Beginning in region 604, the amplitudes at which the different pulses cause stimulation of the heart begin to separate. For instance, particularly between pulse lengths of about 75 microseconds and about 50 microseconds there is clear separation in the amplitudes at which the different pulses cause stimulation. As can be seen, both quad-phasic pulses have overtaken the other pulses in terms having the highest amplitudes, which are still not stimulating at pulse widths of about 60 microseconds.
By the time the pulse widths go down to between 25 microseconds or 20 microseconds and 5 microseconds, the differences between the amplitudes required before the quad-phasic pulses cause stimulation and the other pulses cause stimulation is significant. For example, at 6 microseconds, the quad-phasic pulses require around 40 V in order to cause stimulation of the heart, while the bi-phasic pulses only require around 20 V or 22 V. The mono-phasic pulses in this pulse width range require only between 9-11 V to be stimulating.
In some cases, it is contemplated that the electrical stimulation pulses, which are meant to capture the heart, may be delivered using a first polarity, and the communication pulses, which are not meant to capture the heart, may be delivered using a second opposite polarity. For example, in the example LCP 100 shown in
While it is desirable to reduce the energy required to capture the heart (i.e. reduce the capture threshold) when delivering electrical stimulation therapy, it is often desirable to increase the energy required to capture the heart (i.e. increase the capture threshold) when delivering communication pulses. As such, and in some cases, the polarity of the communication pulses may be delivered such that the smaller electrode on the left end of the LCP 100 functions as the anode and the larger annular surface electrode toward the right side of the LCP 100 functions as the cathode. Alternatively, or in addition, the pulse width duration of the communication pulses may be less than the pulse width duration of the electrical stimulation pulses. As shown in
It is believed that the first phase of the disclosed bi-, tri-, quad-, and other multi-phasic pulses having first phases with abbreviated pulse widths pre-load the tissue (e.g. heart) in an opposite manner to how the second longer phase loads the heart. That is, depending on the polarity of the first phase, the first phase may draw charge to or push charge away from heart cells. This mechanism may be in direct opposition to how the second phase of the pulse causes the charges near the heart cells to act. Accordingly, this pre-loading may allow for longer pulse width durations (e.g. longer pulse widths in subsequent phases of a pulse) or higher amplitudes to be used for communication pulses without fear of accidentally causing unwanted stimulation of the heart or other tissue. Or, the pre-loading may enhance the safety margin with which a system operates when using conducted communication pulses as it increases the amplitudes at which the communication pulses would cause stimulation. Allowing the use of relatively greater energy communication pulses, without causing unwanted tissue stimulation, may enhance the ability of a receiver to receive the communication pulses, and increasing the safety margin of communication pulses with respect to their stimulating amplitude thresholds.
As detailed above, and in some cases, one or both the pulse width and amplitude of the various abbreviated phases and unabbreviated phases in
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure may be manifested in a variety of forms other than the specific embodiments described and contemplated herein. For instance, as described herein, various embodiments include one or more modules described as performing various functions. However, other embodiments may include additional modules that split the described functions up over more modules than that described herein. Additionally, other embodiments may consolidate the described functions into fewer modules.
Although various features may have been described with respect to less than all embodiments, this disclosure contemplates that those features may be included on any embodiment. Further, although the embodiments described herein may have omitted some combinations of the various described features, this disclosure contemplates embodiments that include any combination of each described feature. Accordingly, departure in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as described in the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/381,837, filed Dec. 16, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/268,751 filed on Dec. 17, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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