Implant and control apparatus and method employing at least one tuning fork

Claim 1

A method for controlling the operation of a device implanted beneath the skin of a patient, said method comprising the steps of: generating at least one predetermined pure frequency acoustic signal with at least one tuning fork; placing the tuning fork generating said signal externally near the skin overlying the implanted device; transducing the acoustic signal in the device to an electrical signal; filtering the electrical signal; supplying the filtered electrical signal to signal processing circuitry; and utilizing said filtered signal to cause said implanted device to perform a certain function.

Claim 2

A method for controlling the operation of a device implanted beneath the skin of a patient, said method comprising the steps of: generating at least one predetermined pure frequency acoustic signal with at least one tuning fork; placing the tuning fork generating said signal externally near the skin overlying the implanted device; transducing the acoustic signal in the device to an electrical signal; filtering the electrical signal; supplying the filtered electrical signal to signal processing circuitry; and utilizing said filtered signal to cause said implanted device to perform a certain function.

Claim 8

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes an acoustic vibration to electrical signal transducer, at least one electrical tuned filter coupled to the transducer for detecting a signal of a predetermined frequency, and a programmable electronic device coupled to the output of the at least one tuned filter for decoding the frequency signal received from the filter and for initiating a response, said method comprising the steps of: placing a vibrating tuning fork externally near the skin overlying the implanted device; and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond only to a signal related to the frequency of the tuning fork generated acoustic signal.

Claim 9

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes an acoustic vibration to electrical signal transducer, at least one electrical tuned filter coupled to the transducer for detecting a signal of a predetermined frequency, and a programmable electronic device coupled to the output of the at least one tuned filter for decoding the frequency signal received from the filter and for initiating a response, said method comprising the steps of: placing a vibrating tuning fork externally near the skin overlying the implanted device; and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond only to a signal related to the frequency of the tuning fork generated acoustic signal.

Claim 10

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of patient and which includes an acoustic vibration-to-electrical signal transducer, a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signals and initiating responses, comprising the steps of: placing a plurality of vibrating tuning forks externally near the skin overlying the implanted device, and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to a combination of signals related to the frequencies of the tuning fork generated acoustic signals from the plurality of tuning forks placed over the implanted device.

Claim 11

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of patient and which includes an acoustic vibration-to-electrical signal transducer, a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signals and initiating responses, comprising the steps of: placing a plurality of vibrating tuning forks externally near the skin overlying the implanted device, and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to a combination of signals related to the frequencies of the tuning fork generated acoustic signals from the plurality of tuning forks placed over the implanted device.

Claim 12

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes an acoustic vibration to electrical signal transducer, a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signal and initiating responses, comprising the steps of: placing a plurality of vibrating tuning forks in succession near the skin overlying the implant, and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to a predetermined order of signals related to the preselected frequencies of the tuning fork generated acoustic signals.

Claim 13

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes an acoustic vibration to electrical signal transducer, a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signal and initiating responses, comprising the steps of: placing a plurality of vibrating tuning forks in succession near the skin overlying the implant, and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to a predetermined order of signals related to the preselected frequencies of the tuning fork generated acoustic signals.

Claim 14

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes a magnetically operable switch, an acoustic vibration-to-electrical signal transducer, a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signals and initiating responses of implant control parameters, comprising the steps of: magnetically closing said magnetically operable switch; causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to said closing of said magnetically operable switch; placing a vibrating tuning fork externally near the skin overlying the implanted device; and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond only to a predetermined signal relative to the frequency of the tuning fork generated acoustic signal.

Claim 15

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes a magnetically operable switch, an acoustic vibration-to-electrical signal transducer, a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signals and initiating responses of implant control parameters, comprising the steps of: magnetically closing said magnetically operable switch; causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to said closing of said magnetically operable switch; placing a vibrating tuning fork externally near the skin overlying the implanted device; and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond only to a predetermined signal relative to the frequency of the tuning fork generated acoustic signal.

Claim 17

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes a magnetically operable switch, an acoustic vibration-to-electrical signal transducer; a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signals and initiating response of implant control parameters comprising the steps of: magnetically closing said magnetically operable switch; causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to said closing of said magnetically operable switch; placing a plurality of vibrating tuning forks externally near the skin overlying the implanted device, and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to signals related to the predetermined frequencies of the tuning fork generated acoustic signals.

Claim 18

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes a magnetically operable switch, an acoustic vibration-to-electrical signal transducer; a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signals and initiating response of implant control parameters comprising the steps of: magnetically closing said magnetically operable switch; causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to said closing of said magnetically operable switch; placing a plurality of vibrating tuning forks externally near the skin overlying the implanted device, and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to signals related to the predetermined frequencies of the tuning fork generated acoustic signals.

Claim 19

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes a magnetically operable switch, an acoustic vibration-to-electrical signal transducer, a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signals and initiating response of implant control parameters, comprising the steps of: magnetically closing said magnetically operable switch; causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to said closing of said magnetically operable switch; placing a plurality of vibrating tuning forks in succession near the skin overlying the implanted device; and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to a predetermined order of signals related to the frequencies of the tuning fork generated acoustic signals.

Claim 20

A method for controlling the operation of a device which is implanted beneath the skin of a patient and which includes a magnetically operable switch, an acoustic vibration-to-electrical signal transducer, a plurality of electrical tuned filters coupled to said transducer for detecting frequencies, and a programmable electronic device coupled to said tuned filters for decoding signals and initiating response of implant control parameters, comprising the steps of: magnetically closing said magnetically operable switch; causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to said closing of said magnetically operable switch; placing a plurality of vibrating tuning forks in succession near the skin overlying the implanted device; and causing the output of the programmable electronic device to respond to a predetermined order of signals related to the frequencies of the tuning fork generated acoustic signals.

Claim 22

A system including a tuning fork and an apparatus which is adapted to be implanted in a body and which is responsive to acoustic signals of a relatively pure frequency generated outside the body in which the apparatus may be implanted, said apparatus comprising: an acoustic transducer responsive to low energy sound vibrations generated by said tuning fork and providing an electrical signal corresponding in frequency and amplitude to the sound vibrations; filter means including at least one tuned filter for receiving an electrical signal originated from said acoustic transducer and only transmitting those signals of preselected frequencies; an amplifier coupled between said transducer and said filter means for increasing the strength of an electrical signal originating from said acoustic transducer; and control means for receiving signals transmitted through said filter means and altering the function of the implantable apparatus in response to the transmitted signals.

Claim 23

A system including a tuning fork and an apparatus which is adapted to be implanted in a body and which is responsive to acoustic signals of a relatively pure frequency generated outside the body in which the apparatus may be implanted, said apparatus comprising: an acoustic transducer responsive to low energy sound vibrations generated by said tuning fork and providing an electrical signal corresponding in frequency and amplitude to the sound vibrations; filter means including at least one tuned filter for receiving an electrical signal originated from said acoustic transducer and only transmitting those signals of preselected frequencies; an amplifier coupled between said transducer and said filter means for increasing the strength of an electrical signal originating from said acoustic transducer; and control means for receiving signals transmitted through said filter means and altering the function of the implantable apparatus in response to the transmitted signals.

Claim 28

A system including a plurality of tuning forks and an apparatus which is adapted to be implanted in a body and which is responsive to acoustic signals of a relatively pure frequency generated outside the body in which the apparatus may be implanted, an acoustic transducer responsive to low energy sound vibrations generated by any one of said plurality of tuning forks and providing an electrical signal corresponding in frequency and amplitude to the sound vibrations; filter means for receiving an electrical signal originated from said acoustic transducer and only transmitting those signbals of preselected frequencies, said filter means comprising a plurality of tuned filters equal in number to said plurality of tuning forks, each transmitting a signal of a single preselected frequency which differs from the single preselected frequency transmitted by another tuned filter; an amplifier coupled beween said transducer and said filter means to increase the strength of an electrical signal originating from said acoustic transducer; and control means for receiving signals transmitted through said filter means and altering the function of the implantable apparatus in response to the transmitted signals.

Claim 29

A system including a plurality of tuning forks and an apparatus which is adapted to be implanted in a body and which is responsive to acoustic signals of a relatively pure frequency generated outside the body in which the apparatus may be implanted, an acoustic transducer responsive to low energy sound vibrations generated by any one of said plurality of tuning forks and providing an electrical signal corresponding in frequency and amplitude to the sound vibrations; filter means for receiving an electrical signal originated from said acoustic transducer and only transmitting those signbals of preselected frequencies, said filter means comprising a plurality of tuned filters equal in number to said plurality of tuning forks, each transmitting a signal of a single preselected frequency which differs from the single preselected frequency transmitted by another tuned filter; an amplifier coupled beween said transducer and said filter means to increase the strength of an electrical signal originating from said acoustic transducer; and control means for receiving signals transmitted through said filter means and altering the function of the implantable apparatus in response to the transmitted signals.