Claims
- 1. A method for controlling a prosthetic device in response to neural pathway signals, said method comprising the steps of:
implanting one or more devices contained within sealed elongate housings in a patient's body, said sealed housings having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, whereby said housings are suitable for injection into the patient's body and said devices are configured for monitoring and/or affecting at least one neural pathway of the patient's body via first communication/control circuitry mounted within said housings; forming a prosthetic device having one or more actuators and/or sensors for controlling and/or monitoring one or more aspects of said prosthetic device, whereby said prosthetic device additionally comprises second communication/control circuitry compatible with said first communication/control circuitry for controlling and/or sensing aspects of said of said prosthetic device in response to signals received from said one or more of said implanted devices; and coupling said prosthetic device to said patient's body.
- 2. The method of claim 1 whereby said implanted devices at least periodically require externally provided electromagnetic energy to provide operating power to said implanted devices and said prosthetic device includes an energy source and circuitry for driving a coil to deliver said required electromagnetic energy, said method additionally including the step of periodically energizing said coil to provide operating power to one or more of said implanted devices.
- 3. The method of claim 1 whereby at least one of said implanted devices requires externally provided electromagnetic energy to provide operating power to said implanted device and said prosthetic device includes an energy source and circuitry for driving a coil to deliver said required electromagnetic energy, said method additionally including the step of energizing said coil to provide operating power to one or more of said implantable devices.
- 4. The method of claim 1 whereby at least one of said implanted devices periodically requires externally provided electromagnetic energy for charging a rechargeable battery located within said implanted device to provide operating power to said implanted device and said prosthetic device includes an energy source and circuitry for driving a coil to deliver said required electromagnetic energy, said method additionally including the step of periodically energizing said coil to provide operating power to one or more of said implantable devices.
- 5. The method of claim 1 whereby said implanted devices include stimulation and sensing circuitry and said prosthetic device includes the capability to actuate at least one actuator and receive a sensing signal responsive thereto, said method additionally comprising the step of causing said prosthetic device and one or more of said implanted devices to interact in a closed loop manner.
- 6. The method of claim 5 additionally comprising the step of implanting a system control unit within said patient's body wherein said system control unit communicates with said first communication/control circuitry within said housings and said second communication/control circuitry within said prosthetic device in order to provide supervisory closed loop control.
- 7. The method of claim 5 additionally comprising the step of implanting a system control unit within said prosthetic device wherein said system control unit communicates with said first communication/control circuitry within said housings and said second communication/control circuitry within said prosthetic device in order to provide supervisory closed loop control.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of forming a prosthetic device with second communication/control circuitry compatible with said first communication/control circuitry comprises forming said second communication/control circuitry from circuitry essentially functionally identical to said communication/control circuitry.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of forming a prosthetic device with second communication/control circuitry compatible with said first communication/control circuitry comprises forming said second communication/control circuitry from one or more devices essentially identical with said implanted devices.
- 10. A system for controlling a prosthetic device in response to neural pathway signals, said system comprising:
one or more devices configured for implantation within a patient's body, each said device contained within a sealed elongate housing having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, whereby said housings are suitable for injection into the patient's body and said devices are configured for monitoring and/or affecting at least one neural pathway of the patient's body via first communication/control circuitry mounted within said housings; and a prosthetic device having one or more actuators and/or sensors for controlling and/or monitoring one or more aspects of said prosthetic device, whereby said prosthetic device additionally comprises second communication/control circuitry compatible within said first communication/control circuitry for controlling and/or sensing aspects of said of said prosthetic device in response to signals received from said one or more implanted devices.
- 11. The system of claim 10 wherein:
selected ones of said one or more said implantable devices obtain operating power from externally provided electromagnetic energy; and said prosthetic device additionally comprises:
a power source; a coil for providing electromagnetic energy; and driver circuitry for providing an electrical signal to said coil to cause it to emit electromagnetic energy to thereby provide operating power to said selected implantable device.
- 12. The system of claim 10 wherein:
selected ones of said one or more said implantable devices contain:
a rechargeable battery for providing operating power; a coil for periodically receiving externally provided electromagnetic energy; and charging circuitry for using said periodically provided electromagnetic energy received by said coil to charge said rechargeable battery; and said prosthetic device additionally comprises:
a power source; a coil for periodically providing electromagnetic energy; and driver circuitry for periodically providing an electrical signal to said coil to cause it to emit electromagnetic energy to thereby charge said rechargeable batteries in said selected implantable devices.
- 13. The system of claim 10 whereby said first and second communication/control circuitry communicate with each other via a wireless communication link.
- 14. The system of claim 13 whereby said wireless communication link uses radio frequency communication.
- 15. The system of claim 10 whereby said prosthetic device is configured for physical coupling to the patient's body.
- 16. The system of claim 10 whereby said prosthetic device is a robotic device configured for use remote from the patient's body.
- 17. The system of claim 10 whereby said second communication/control circuitry is essentially functionally identical with said first communication/control circuitry.
- 18. The system of claim 10 whereby said prosthetic device includes one or more of said implantable devices mounted within to perform the function of at least a portion of said second communication/control circuitry.
- 19. The system of claim 10 wherein said power source within said prosthetic device is rechargeable.
- 20. The system of claim 10 wherein said implantable devices include stimulation and sensing circuitry for affecting neural pathways of said patient's body and said second communication/control circuitry of said prosthetic device includes the capability to actuate at least one actuator and receive a sensed signal responsive thereto, wherein said system additionally includes a capability for said prosthetic device and one or more of said implantable devices to interact in a closed loop manner.
- 21. The system of claim 20 additionally comprising a system control unit for communicating with one or more of said implantable devices and said second communication/control circuitry in said prosthetic device and to thereby to supervise the interaction of said prosthetic device and one or more of said implantable devices in a closed loop manner.
- 22. The system of claim 20 wherein said system control unit is configured for implantation within the patient's body.
- 23. The system of claim 20 wherein said prosthetic device includes said system control unit.
- 24. The system of claim 20 wherein said prosthetic device comprises at least one sensing device and one actuator responsive in part thereto to enable a reflex response.
- 25. The system of claim 24 wherein said prosthetic device comprises two or more of sets of said second communication/control circuitry essentially identical with said first communication control circuitry for providing said reflex response.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/300,397, filed Jun. 22, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60300397 |
Jun 2001 |
US |