Transcutaneous energy transfer systems

• US 10,376,624 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rudser, John, Schwarzbach, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Fairchild, Mallika D
• Application Number:
  US14/686,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20150290379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/216 including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/508 Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/592 Communication of patient or blood pump data to distant operators for treatment purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/875 specially adapted for optimising alignment of external and implantable coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/876 Implantable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an improved transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system that generates and wirelessly transmits a sufficient amount of energy to power one or more implanted devices, including a heart pump, while maintaining the system'"'"'s efficiency, safety, and overall convenience of use. The disclosure further relates one or more methods of operation for the improved system.

Claims

1. A transcutaneous energy transfer system comprising:

a plurality of implanted electronics including an internal telemetry transmitter, an internal component comprising a power-consuming device and an internal coil electrically connected to the power-consuming device, the internal component being adapted for mounting within the body of an animal;

an external module housing a plurality of external electronics for communicating with the plurality of implanted electronics, the plurality of external electronics including an external telemetry receiver in communication with the internal telemetry transmitter;

an external coil adapted for mounting outside of the body;

a current monitor operative to measure current flow in the external coil and to provide an indication of whether or not the external coil is electromagnetically coupled to the internal coil based on the measured current flow;

an external control circuit for determining whether the plurality of implanted electronics are communicating with the plurality of external electronics;

a drive circuit operative to apply a power-level alternating potential to the external coil responsive to an indication from a coupling detection circuit that the external coil is electromagnetically coupled to the internal coil, and to apply an initial test-level alternating potential that is less than the potential required to operate the device and less than the power-level alternating potential to the external coil when not applying the power-level alternating potential, an amount of the applied alternating potential varying according to whether the internal coil and the internal telemetry transmitter of the plurality of implanted electronics are communicating with the external coil and the external telemetry transmitter of the plurality of external electronics; and

a control circuit operative to control the drive circuit responsive to information from the external telemetry receiver.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive circuit is operative to cease application of the power-level alternating potential to the external coil in response to an indication from the coupling detection circuit that the external coil is not electromagnetically coupled to the internal coil.