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Method and system for controlling supply of energy to an implantable medical device

  • US 10,293,173 B2
  • Filed: 09/27/2016
  • Issued: 05/21/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An arrangement for supplying energy to an electrically operable medical device implanted in a patient, said arrangement comprising:

  • an internal energy receiver located inside the patient, said internal energy receiver being connected to said medical device for directly or indirectly supplying received energy thereto,an internal control unit connected to the medical device, the internal control unit being adapted to determine an amount of energy currently required for the operation of said medical device,an internal signal transmitter connected to the internal control unit, the internal signal transmitter being arranged to transmit a control signal reflecting the determined required amount of energy,an external energy source located outside the patient, the external energy source being arranged to transfer energy inductively from a primary coil in said external energy source to a secondary coil in said internal energy receiver,an external control unit arranged to, in response to a control signal, accurately control the amount of transferred energy to the implanted medical device, by adjusting the energy transfer efficiency from said external energy source to said internal energy receiver,an external signal receiver connected to the external control unit, the external signal receiver being arranged to receive the control signal reflecting the determined required amount of energy, anda coil displacement unit connected to said external control unit and configured to adjust the energy transfer efficiency by repeatedly adjusting the position of said primary coil relative to said secondary coil by displacing the primary coil in at least one of a plurality of different directions relative to said secondary coil,wherein the external control unit is arranged to decrease the energy transfer efficiency by automatically control movements of said primary coil based on said control signal, using said coil displacement unit such that a distance between said primary coil and said secondary coil is increased, or such that an angle between a symmetry axis of the primary coil and a symmetry axis of the secondary coil is increased.

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