| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20100069992 | Implantable Medical Device with Single Coil for Charging and Communicating - A combination charging and telemetry circuit for use within an implantable device, such as a microstimulator, uses a single coil for both charging and telemetry. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, one or more capacitors are used to tune the single coil to different frequencies, wherein the coil is used for multiple purposes, e.g., for receiving power from an external source and also for the telemetry of information to and from an external source. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100106206 | METHOD TO DETECT PROPER LEAD CONNECTION IN AN IMPLANTABLE STIMULATION SYSTEM - An implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator for coupling to a lead with a distal end and a proximal end, the lead comprising at least one terminal disposed at the proximal end. The implantable pulse generator comprises a connector for receiving the proximal end of the lead, the connector having at least one contact, and a sensor configured and arranged for detecting electrical connectivity between the implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator and the lead, the sensor comprising at least one sensor contact, the sensor contact being configured and arranged for electrically coupling to a terminal of the lead and at least one of the contacts of the connector when the lead is fully inserted in the connector and thereby detecting electrical connectivity between the implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator and the lead. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100137948 | EXTERNAL CHARGER WITH ADJUSTABLE ALIGNMENT INDICATOR - Electrical energy is transcutaneously transmitted at a plurality of different frequencies to an implanted medical device. The magnitude of the transmitted electrical energy respectively measured at the plurality of frequencies. One of the frequencies is selected based on the measured magnitude of the electrical energy (e.g., the frequency at which the measured magnitude of the electrical energy is the greatest). A depth level at which the medical device is implanted within the patient is determined based on the selected frequency. For example, the depth level may be determined to be relatively shallow if the selected frequency is relatively high, and relatively deep if the selected frequency is relative low. A charge strength threshold at which a charge strength indicator generates a user-discernible signal can then be set based on the determined depth level. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100204756 | External Device for Communicating with an Implantable Medical Device Having Data Telemetry and Charging Integrated in a Single Housing - An improved embodiment of an external device for an implantable medical device system is described herein, where the external device has both circuitry for charging the implantable medical device and circuitry for telemetering data to and from the medical implant contained within a single housing. The external device in one embodiment includes orthogonal radiators in which both the radiators are used for data transfer, and in which at least one of the radiators is used for power transfer. Having charging and data telemetry circuitry fully integrated within a single external device conveniences both patient and clinician. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100305663 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM HAVING SHORT RANGE COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN AN EXTERNAL CONTROLLER AND AN EXTERNAL CHARGER - Disclosed is an improved system for providing charging information during the powering of a medical implantable device by an external changer. In the disclosed system, relevant charging information originates in the external charger, or is transmitted to the external charger from the implant during charging. The charging information is transferred from the external charger to an external controller using a short range communication link that is not orientation dependent (i.e., omni-directional), such as one employing a Bluetooth™ or Zibgee™ protocol for example. Once received, the external controller can convey the charging information to the patient or clinician, such as by displaying the charging information on the graphical user interface of the external controller. Additionally, the short range communication link between the external controller and the external charger allows the external charger to be controlled by the external controller, which adds system flexibility and convenience. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100318159 | MINIATURE REMOTE CONTROLLER FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A miniature remote controller for an implantable medical device provides a subset of the functionality of a full-sized remote controller for the implantable medical device. The two remote controllers each have a user interface, which can be different from each other. A remote controller for an implantable medical device can have a coil for communicating with the implantable medical device, where the coil is wrapped around a coil axis parallel to a long axis of a housing of the remote controller. A user interface of the remote controller can have an indicator light to indicate success or failure of a communication with the implantable medical device and status of the implantable medical device. The housing of the remote controller can have two differently sized sections. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110004278 | External Charger for a Medical Implantable Device Using Field Sensing Coils to Improve Coupling - By incorporating magnetic field sensing coils in an external charger, it is possible to determine the position of an implantable device by sensing the reflected magnetic field from the implant. In one embodiment, two or more field sensing coils are arranged to sense the reflected magnetic field. By comparing the relative reflected magnetic field strengths of the sensing coils, the position of the implant relative to the external charger can be determined. Audio and/or visual feedback can then be communicated to the patient to allow the patient to improve the alignment of the charger. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110071597 | External Charger Usable with an Implantable Medical Device Having a Programmable or Time-Varying Temperature Set Point - An improved external charger for charging the battery within or providing power to an implantable medical device is disclosed. The improved external charger includes circuitry for detecting the temperature of the external charger and for controlling charging to prevent exceeding a maximum temperature. The external charger in some embodiments includes a user interface for allowing a patient to set the external charger's maximum temperature. The user interface can be used to select either constant maximum temperatures, or can allow the user to choose from a number of stored charging programs, which programs can control the maximum temperature to vary over time. Alternatively, a charging program in the external charger can vary the maximum temperature set point automatically. By controlling the maximum temperature of the external charger during charging in these manners, the time needed to charge can be minimized while still ensuring a temperature that is comfortable for that patient. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110093048 | External Charger for a Medical Implantable Device Using Field Inducing Coils to Improve Coupling - By incorporating magnetic field-inducing position determination coils (PDCs) in an external charger, it is possible to determine the position of an implantable device by actively inducing magnetic fields using the PDCs and sensing the reflected magnetic field from the implant. In one embodiment, the PDCs are driven by an AC power source with a frequency equal to the charging coil. In another embodiment, the PDCs are driven by an AC power source at a frequency different from that of the charging coil. By comparing the relative reflected magnetic field strengths at each of the PDCs, the position of the implant relative to the external charger can be determined. Audio and/or visual feedback can then be communicated to the patient to allow the patient to improve the alignment of the charger. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110112611 | External Controller/Charger System for an Implantable Medical Device Capable of Automatically Providing Data Telemetry Through a Charging Coil During a Charging Session - An improved external controller/charger system for an implantable medical device is described herein, in which the external controller/charger system provides automatic switching between telemetry and charging without any manual intervention by the patient. The external controller/charger system includes an external controller which houses a telemetry coil and an external charging coil coupled to the external controller. Normally, a charging session is carried out using the external charging coil, and a telemetry session is carried out using the telemetry coil. However, when a patient requests to carry out telemetry during a charging session, the external charging coil is used instead of the internal telemetry coil. Specifically, in one embodiment, the external controller/charger system automatically decouples the external charging coil from the charging circuitry and couples it to the telemetry circuitry. The device and the implantable medical device then carry out the desired telemetry via the external charging coil. After a predetermined time, or after the telemetry session is complete, the external controller/charger system automatically decouples the external coil from the telemetry circuitry and recouples it to the charging circuitry. | 05-12-2011 |
