Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a medical implant is disclosed. The system (10,210,310,410) includes on-board electronics, a signal generator (15,215), an amplifier (16,216), a coil (14,214), a receiver (22,222), and a processor (20,220). The on-board electronics (100, 110) include a power harvester, a sensor, a microprocessor, and a data transmitter. The signal generator (15,215) generates a first signal, the amplifier (16,216) amplifies the first signal, the coil (14,214) transmits the amplified signal, the power harvester receives the first signal and transmits a data packet (18,218) containing data, the receiver (22,222) receives the data packet (18,218), and the processor (20,220) either processes the data or sends the data to a data storage device.

Abstract: An RFID tag (200) and similar control/sensing unit (300) for a communications system are described. The control/sensing unit has a control element (301) having one or more states, and include an antenna (207) as well as an electrical circuit (201-206) generating a pulse control signal for controlling transmission from the antenna and varying a parameter of the pulse control signal in dependence on the state of the control element (301). Also disclosed is a receiving communication unit in the form of a base unit or system controller for such a communications system, the unit including a receiver (100) for receiving a pulsed RF signal and an electrical circuit (105-106) for detecting a parameter of the pulsed RF signal. An output circuit (107) then produces an output control signal dependent on the detected parameter of the pulsed RF signal.