Heat management for recharge coils for implantable medical devices
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a flexible coil configured to at least one of transmit electrical energy to or receive electrical energy from a second coil via inductive coupling; and
a phase change material configured in one or more shapes that allow the phase change material in a solid state to deform with the flexible coil, wherein the phase change material is configured to absorb heat from the flexible coil.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems, and techniques for managing heat generated in coils for wireless energy transmission are disclosed. Inductive coupling between two coils may be used to recharge the power source of an implantable medical device. A phase change material may be thermally coupled to a flexible coil to absorb heat generated during the inductive coupling and reduce temperature increases of the flexible coil. The flexible coil may be configured to at least one of transmit energy to or receive energy from a second coil, and the phase change material may be configured to deform with the flexible coil and absorb heat from the flexible coil. The phase change material may be contained within thermally conductive tubes or channels configured in shapes that promote flexibility of the flexible coil.
75 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a flexible coil configured to at least one of transmit electrical energy to or receive electrical energy from a second coil via inductive coupling; and a phase change material configured in one or more shapes that allow the phase change material in a solid state to deform with the flexible coil, wherein the phase change material is configured to absorb heat from the flexible coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device comprising:
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a flexible coil configured to at least one of transmit electrical energy to or receive electrical energy from a second coil via inductive coupling; and means for absorbing heat from the flexible coil, wherein the means for absorbing heat is configured in one or more shapes that allows the means for absorbing heat in a solid state to deform with the flexible coil. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system comprising:
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an implantable medical device comprising a first coil; a flexible coil configured to transmit electrical energy to the first coil of the implantable medical device via inductive coupling, wherein the flexible coil is configured to conform to a non-planar exterior skin surface; a phase change material disposed in one or more shapes selected to allow the phase change material in a solid state to deform with the flexible coil when the phase change material is disposed at one or more positions adjacent to the flexible coil, wherein the phase change material is configured to absorb heat from the flexible coil; and a flexible housing configured to encase the flexible coil and the phase change material. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method comprising:
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transmitting electrical energy from a flexible primary coil associated with an external recharge device to a secondary coil of an implantable medical device; and absorbing heat from the flexible primary coil via a phase change material configured in one or more shapes that allow the phase change material in a solid state to deform with the flexible primary coil.
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35. A system comprising:
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an implantable medical device comprising a first coil and a rechargeable power source; and an external charging device comprising; a flexible coil configured to transmit electrical energy to the first coil of the implantable medical device via inductive coupling; and a phase change material configured in one or more shapes that allow the phase change material in a solid state to deform with the flexible coil, wherein the phase change material is configured to absorb heat from the flexible coil, wherein the external charging device is configured to transcutaneously charge the rechargeable power source of the implantable medical device via inductive coupling between the flexible coil and the first coil.
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Specification