Inductively rechargeable external energy source, charger, system and method for a transcutaneous inductive charger for an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- transferring, via an external device, energy transcutaneously to an implantable medical device;
sensing, via a sensor of the external device, an indication of heat imparted by the external device to a patient;
controlling, via a control circuit, the transferring of energy to the implantable medical device based on the sensed indication and a temperature limit to limit heat to which the patient is exposed; and
receiving, via the control circuit, a modified temperature limit that is modified based on then-current circumstances associated with the transferring of energy to the implantable medical device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism for transferring energy from an external power source to an implantable medical device is disclosed. A sensor may be used to measure a parameter that correlates to a temperature of the system that occurs during the transcutaneous coupling of energy. For example, the sensor may measure temperature of a surface of an antenna of the external power source. The measured parameter may then be compared to a programmable limit. A control circuit such as may be provided by the external power source may then control the temperature based on the comparison. The programmable limit may be, for example, under software control so that the temperature occurring during transcutaneous coupling of energy may be modified to fit then-current circumstances.
100 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
transferring, via an external device, energy transcutaneously to an implantable medical device; sensing, via a sensor of the external device, an indication of heat imparted by the external device to a patient; controlling, via a control circuit, the transferring of energy to the implantable medical device based on the sensed indication and a temperature limit to limit heat to which the patient is exposed; and receiving, via the control circuit, a modified temperature limit that is modified based on then-current circumstances associated with the transferring of energy to the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A medical system, comprising:
-
an implantable medical device; an external device configured to transcutaneously transfer energy to the implantable medical device, the external device comprising a sensor configured to provide an indication of heat imparted by the external device to a patient; and a control circuit configured to control the transfer of energy to the implantable medical device, based on the indication of heat imparted by the external device to the patient and a temperature limit, to limit heat to which the patient is exposed, and wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a modified temperature limit that has been modified to fit then-current circumstances involving the transfer of energy to the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A charging system for an implantable medical device, comprising:
-
a coil configured to transcutaneously transfer energy to the implantable medical device; a sensor configured to provide an indication of heat imparted to a patient by the transfer of energy to the implantable medical device; and a control circuit configured to control the transfer of energy to the implantable medical device based on a temperature limit and an indication of heat imparted to the patient, and wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a modified temperature limit to control the transfer of energy to the implantable medical device, wherein the modified temperature limit is modified to fit then-current circumstances involving the transfer of energy to the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
Specification