Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090118796 | EXTERNAL CONTROLLER FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM WITH COUPLEABLE EXTERNAL CHARGING COIL ASSEMBLY - An improved integrated external controller/charger system useable with an implantable medical device is disclosed. The system comprises two main components: an external controller and an external charging coil assembly that is coupleable thereto. When the external charging coil assembly is coupled to the external controller, the system can be used to both send and receive data telemetry to and from the implantable medical device, and to send power to the device. Specifically, the external controller controls data telemetry by energizing at least one coil within the external controller, and the external controller controls power transmission by energizing a charging coil in the external charging coil assembly, which is otherwise devoid of its own control, power, and user interface. The result is a cheaper, simpler, more compact, and more convenient data telemetry and charging solution for the patient having a medical implant. | 05-07-2009 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20110087307 | Efficient External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device Optimized for Fast Charging and Constrained by an Implant Power Dissipation Limit - An improved external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device (implant), and technique for charging the battery using such improved external charger, is disclosed. In one example, simulation data is used to model the power dissipation of the charging circuitry in the implant at varying levels of implant power. A power dissipation limit is chosen to constrain the charging circuitry from producing an inordinate amount of heat to the tissue surrounding the implant, and duty cycles are determined for the various levels of input intensities to ensure that the power limit is not exceeded. A maximum simulated average battery current determines the optimal (i.e., quickest) battery charging current, and at least an optimal value for a parameter indicative of that current, for example, the voltage across the battery charging circuitry, is determined and stored in the external charger. During charging, the actual value for that parameter is reported from the implant to the external charger, which in turn adjusts the intensity and/or duty cycle of the magnetic charging field consistent with the simulation to ensure that charging is as fast as possible, while still not exceeding the power dissipation limit. | 04-14-2011 |
20110121777 | Efficient External Charger for Charging a Plurality of Implantable Medical Devices - An improved external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device (implant), and technique for charging batteries in multiple implants using such improved external charger, is disclosed. During charging, values for a parameter measured in the implants are reported from the implants to the external charger. The external charger infers from the magnitudes of the parameters which of the implants has the highest and lowest coupling to the external charger, and so designates those implants as “hot” and “cold.” The intensity of the magnetic charging field is optimized for the cold implant consistent with the simulation to ensure that that the cold implant is charged with a maximum (fastest) battery charging current. The duty cycle of the magnetic charging field is also optimized for the hot implant consistent with the simulation to ensure that the hot implant does not exceed the power dissipation limit. As a result, charging is optimized to be fast for all of the implants, while still safe from a tissue heating perspective. | 05-26-2011 |
20110234155 | Inductive Charger with Magnetic Shielding - To recharge an implanted medical device, an external device, typically in the form of an inductive charger, is placed over the implant to provide for transcutaneous energy transfer. The external charging device can be powered by a rechargeable battery. Since the battery is in close proximity to the charge coil, the large magnetic field produced by the charge coil induces eddy currents that flow on the battery's metallic case, often resulting in undesirable heating of the battery and reduced efficiency of the charger. This disclosure provides a means of shielding the battery from the magnetic field to reduce eddy current heating, thereby increasing efficiency. In one embodiment, the magnetic shield consists of one or more thin ferrite plates. The use of a ferrite shield allows the battery to be placed directly over the charge coil as opposed to outside the extent of the charge coil. | 09-29-2011 |
20120004708 | Implantable Medical Device and Charging System Employing Electric Fields - An implantable medical device and external base station system are disclosed. The external base station can provide a passive electric field to power the implant, or to charge its battery. The base station may also power or charge using magnetic fields under certain circumstances. The Implantable medical device may comprise an implantable neurostimulator having a number of electrode leads extending from its body. One or more of the electrode leads can comprise the antenna for receiving the electric field from the base station, and resonance in that antenna can be rectified to provide the power for recharging the battery. Although the E-field provided by the base station does not provide as much power for recharging as does other traditional charging techniques (such as those using magnetic fields), it can occur passively and over longer distances to allow the patent's implant to be recharged when in relative proximity to the base station. | 01-05-2012 |
20120004709 | Charging System for an Implantable Medical Device Employing Magnetic and Electric Fields - A base station for passively recharging a battery in an implant without patient involvement is disclosed. The base station can be hand held or may comprise equipment configured to be placed at a fixed location, such as under a bed, on or next to a wall, etc. The base station can generate electric and magnetic fields (E-field and B-field) that couple with an antenna and a receiving coil within the implant to generate a charging current for charging the implant's battery. No handling or manipulation on part of the patient is necessary; the implant battery is passively charged whenever the patient is within range of either the magnetic or electric charging fields generated by base station. Charging using the B-field occurs when the IPG is at a relatively short distance from the base station, while charging using the E-field occurs at longer distances. Back telemetry from the implant can inform the base station whether B-field or E-field charging is indicated, and is preferred if possible for its ability to transfer higher amounts of power to the implant. | 01-05-2012 |
20120012630 | CHARGER BELT - Electrical energy is transcutaneously transmitted from an external charger to an implanted medical device, wherein the external charger includes a charger head that is positioned on the patient to align with the implanted medical device for efficient charging. To secure the charger head in alignment with the implanted medical device, a belt with a buckle is provided for securing the charger head. The belt is adjustable in length by sliding end portions of the belt through a buckle and joining respective fabrics on the belt. The position of the buckle can also be adjusted for ease of patient use. Additional features of the belt provide for heat management to improve patient comfort and an additional strap to further adjust the length of the belt. | 01-19-2012 |
20120172948 | 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. | 07-05-2012 |
20130006327 | TWO-PIECE SOUND PROCESSOR SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SYSTEM - An exemplary system includes 1) a headpiece module configured to be affixed to a head of a patient and comprising a primary sound processor configured to generate stimulation parameters used to direct an auditory prosthesis implanted within the patient to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient and 2) a sound processor module separate from the headpiece module and configured to be selectively and communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. The sound processor module includes a secondary sound processor configured to detect a communicative coupling of the sound processor module to the headpiece module and contribute to the generation of one or more of the stimulation parameters while the sound processor module is communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 01-03-2013 |
20130261704 | 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. | 10-03-2013 |
20140070773 | METHOD OF IMPROVING BATTERY RECHARGE EFFICIENCY BY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS - A system and method for using statistical analysis of information obtained during a rechargeable battery charging session, wherein the method is for optimizing one or more parameters that are used for controlling the charging of a rechargeable battery during the charging session. | 03-13-2014 |
20140074185 | METHOD OF MINIMIZING INTERRUPTIONS TO IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE RECHARGING - A system and method of controlling the charging of the battery of a medical device using a remote inductive charger, with the method utilizing both a relatively fast closed-loop charging control based on a proxy for a target power transmission value in conjunction, and a slower closed-loop control based on an actual measured transmission value to control a charging power level for charging the medical device. | 03-13-2014 |
20140146985 | TWO-PIECE SOUND PROCESSOR SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SYSTEM - An exemplary system includes 1) a headpiece module configured to be affixed to a head of a patient and comprising a primary sound processor configured to generate stimulation parameters used to direct an auditory prosthesis implanted within the patient to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient and 2) a sound processor module separate from the headpiece module and configured to be selectively and communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. The sound processor module includes a secondary sound processor configured to detect a communicative coupling of the sound processor module to the headpiece module and contribute to the generation of one or more of the stimulation parameters while the sound processor module is communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 05-29-2014 |
20140200631 | Efficient External Charger for Charging a Plurality of Implantable Medical Devices - An external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device (implant), and technique for charging batteries in multiple implants using such improved external charger, is disclosed. During charging, values for a parameter measured in the implants are reported from the implants to the external charger. The external charger infers from the magnitudes of the parameters which of the implants has the highest (hot) and lowest (cold) coupling to the external charger. The intensity of the magnetic charging field is optimized for the cold implant to ensure that it is charged with a maximum (fastest) battery charging current. The duty cycle of the magnetic charging field is also optimized for the hot implant to ensure that it does not exceed a power dissipation limit. As a result, charging is optimized to be fast for all of the implants, while still safe from a tissue heating perspective. | 07-17-2014 |
20140249603 | Battery Charger Circuit for Battery Powered Implantable Neurostimulation Systems - An implantable device includes a stimulation electronic circuit, a battery, a receiver configured to receive energy from a source external to the implantable stimulation device, and a battery charger circuit configured to use the energy to charge the battery and power the stimulation electronic circuit, the battery charger circuit including a load switch for connecting/disconnecting the battery, the load switch being controlled by the stimulation electronic circuit. | 09-04-2014 |
20140277287 | Efficient External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device Optimized for Fast Charging and Constrained by an Implant Power Dissipation Limit - An external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device and charging techniques are disclosed. Simulation data is used to model the power dissipation of the charging circuitry in the implant at varying levels of implant power. A power dissipation limit constrains the charging circuitry from producing an inordinate amount of heat to the tissue surrounding the implant, and duty cycles of a charging field are determined so as not to exceed that limit. A maximum simulated average battery current determines the optimal (i.e., quickest) battery charging current, and at least an optimal value for a parameter indicative of that current is determined and stored in the external charger. During charging, the actual value for that parameter is determined, and the intensity and/or duty cycle of the charging field are adjusted to ensure that charging is as fast as possible, while still not exceeding the power dissipation limit. | 09-18-2014 |
20140324127 | Implantable Medical Device with Multi-Function Single Coil - 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. | 10-30-2014 |
20150018910 | NEUROSTIMULATOR INTERCONNECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD - In various examples, an apparatus includes a neurostimulation interconnection apparatus including an elongate lead body including a lead proximal end and a lead distal end. The lead proximal end includes a first connector portion. A stimulation device includes a header. The header includes a second connector portion including a shape complementary to a shape of the first connector portion. The first connector portion is mateably engageable with the second connector portion, wherein one of the first connector portion and the second connector portion includes a plurality of pins and the other of the first connector portion and the second connector portion includes a plurality of sockets. There are an equal number of sockets and pins, wherein, with the first connector portion mateably engaged with the second connector portion, the pins align and electrically couple with the sockets. | 01-15-2015 |