Distance measurement using implantable acoustic transducers

摘要

Implantable systems and methods (e.g., using an implantable medical device) for measuring distance including a transmit/receive acoustic transducer implantable at a first location for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals, an echo acoustic transducer implantable at a second location for receiving the acoustic signal from the transmit/receive acoustic transducer and in response thereto transmitting a return echo signal to be received by the transmit/receive acoustic sensor, and a controller to control transmission of the acoustic signal from the transmit/receive acoustic transducer at a transmit time and determine a receive time corresponding to the time the transmit/receive acoustic transducer receives the return echo signal. The distance between the transmit/receive acoustic transducer and the echo acoustic transducer is determined as a function of the transmit time and the receive time.

主权项

1. An implantable medical device measurement system comprising:
a transmit/receive acoustic sensor comprising a transmit/receive acoustic transducer implantable at a first location, wherein the transmit/receive acoustic transducer is configured to transmit and receive acoustic signals; an echo acoustic sensor comprising an echo acoustic transducer implantable at a second location, wherein the echo acoustic transducer is configured to receive an acoustic signal from the transmit/receive acoustic transducer and in response thereto transmit a return echo signal to be received by the transmit/receive acoustic transducer; and a controller configured to control transmission of the acoustic signal from the transmit/receive acoustic transducer at a transmit time and determine a receive time corresponding to the time the transmit/receive acoustic transducer receives the return echo signal transmitted by the echo acoustic transducer, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a distance between the transmit/receive acoustic transducer and the echo acoustic transducer as a function of the transmit time and the receive time.