Implantable medical power module

• US 20050021100A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quallion, LLC (EnerSys)
• Original Assignee: Quallion, LLC (EnerSys)
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Hisashi, Tan, Pang Hoo
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/659 by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed is a medically implantable integrated biocompatible power module incorporating a power source (e.g., battery), a power management circuit (PMC), a magnetically inductive coupling system (MICS) for remote communication and/or inductive charging and a homing device for locating the implanted inductive charging coil. Three configurations are disclosed, each generally suitable for a specified range of energy capacities. The implantable power module (IPM) allows for improved design flexibility for medical devices since the power source may be located remotely and be recharged safely in situ. Special safety aspects may be incorporated, including endothermic phase change heat absorption material (HAM), emergency energy disconnect and emergency energy drain circuits. Communication (one or two way) may be carried out using the inductive charging link, a separate inductive pathway, or other pathway such as RF or via light waves. Homing devices and other means for precisely locating the IPM and/or MICS are disclosed.

Claims

1. A standalone implantable power module that can be used to power a variety of medical devices, comprising:

a hermetically sealed biocompatible case;

an electrochemical energy storage device housed within said case;

a power management circuit housed within said case;

a couple for remotely communicating with said power module;

said couple electrically connected to said power management circuit;

and at least one connector for functionally interconnecting said electrochemical energy storage device to an implantable medical device.

2. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said power management circuit comprises a data processing circuit.

3. The implantable power module of claim 1 further comprising a homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted.

4. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical energy storage device comprises at least one primary battery.

5. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical energy storage device comprises at least one rechargeable battery.

6. The implantable power module of claim 5 wherein said electrochemical energy storage device further comprises at least one primary battery.

7. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical energy storage device comprises at least one capacitor.

8. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said at least one connector comprises a combined power and data connector.

9. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said at least one connector comprises at least one power connector, and at least one data connector.

10. The implantable power module of claim 5 wherein said couple comprises a secondary inductive coil interoperatively connected to said rechargeable battery wherein a fluctuating electromagnetic field generates a current in said secondary inductive coil effecting recharging of said rechargeable battery.

11. The implantable power module of claim 10 wherein said power management circuit controls said recharging.

12. The implantable power module of claim 10 wherein said secondary inductive coil at least partially surrounds said electrochemical storage device.

13. The implantable power module of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said rechargeable battery is shielded with a ferrous magnetic material.

14. The implantable power module of claim 13 wherein said a ferrous magnetic material comprises ferrite.

15. The implantable power module of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said power management circuit is shielded with a ferrous magnetic material.

16. The implantable power module of claim 15 wherein said a ferrous magnetic material comprises ferrite.

17. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said power management circuit manages the safety and operation of said implantable power module.

18. The implantable power module of claim 17 wherein said power management circuit senses and responds to one or more of the following conditions:

overcharging, over-discharging, excessive battery temperature, abnormal voltage, and abnormal current.

19. The implantable power module of claim 18 wherein said power management circuit response comprises disconnecting said electrochemical energy storage device from at least one electrical circuit.

31. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said hermetically sealed biocompatible case comprises at least one of the following:

metal and ceramic.

32. The implantable power module of claim 31 wherein said metal comprises titanium or an alloy of titanium.

33. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said medical device is contiguously attached to said power module and wherein said connecting means comprises electrical contacts contained within an external hermetic plug.

36. The implantable power module of claim 1 further comprising a means for communicating status remotely.

37. The implantable power module of claim 36 wherein said means for communicating comprises signals carried via said couple.

38. The implantable power module of claim 37 wherein said couple comprises an inductive coil.

39. The implantable power module of claim 36 wherein said means for communicating comprises a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver.

40. The implantable power module of claim 36 wherein said means for communicating comprises a light wave transmitter and a light wave receiver.

41. The implantable power module of claim 1 further comprising a means for remotely controlling said power module.

42. The implantable power module of claim 41 wherein said means for controlling said power module comprises signals carried via said couple.

43. The implantable power module of claim 42 wherein said couple comprises an inductive coil.

44. The implantable power module of claim 41 wherein said means for controlling said power module comprises a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver.

45. The implantable power module of claim 41 wherein said means for controlling said power module comprises a light wave transmitter and a light wave receiver.

46. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said power management circuit further comprises said homing device for locating said power module.

47. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises magnetic material.

48. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises at least one passive transponder.

49. The implantable module of claim 48 wherein said at least one passive transponder comprises at least one microchip.

50. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises at least one active transponder.

51. The implantable power module of claim 50 wherein said at least one active transponder comprises at least one microchip.

52. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises at least one radio frequency transmitter.

53. The implantable power module of claim 52 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted further comprises an initiator circuit responsive to a signal from outside said power module, wherein said initiator circuit switches on said radio frequency transmitter upon receiving said signal from outside said power module.

54. The implantable power module of claim 53 wherein said signal from outside said power module comprises a radio frequency signal.

55. The implantable power module of claim 53 wherein said signal from outside said power module comprises a magnetic field.

56. The implantable power module of claim 53 wherein said signal from outside said power module comprises an audio signal.

57. The implantable power module of claim 53 wherein said signal from outside said power module comprises a light signal.

58. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises a metal object wherein said metal object is detectible transcutaneously with a metal detector.

59. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises a light-producing device detectable transcutaneously.

60. The implantable power module of claim 59 wherein said light-producing device comprises at least on light-emitting diode.

61. The implantable power module of claim 59 wherein said light producing device emits light in the approximately 400 to 700 nm range.

62. The implantable power module of claim 59 wherein said light producing device emits light in the approximately 0.8 to 2.5-μ

m range.

63. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises radioactive material which can be detected transcutaneously.

64. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises a biocompatible tendril or protrusion extending from said secondary charger coil intercutaneously such that it may be detected by touch.

65. The implantable power module of claim 3 wherein said homing device for locating said power module after it is implanted comprises a biocompatible tendril or protrusion extending transcutaneously from said secondary charger coil to outside the patient'"'"'s body.

67. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said connector for coupling said electrochemical energy storage device to a medical device is further characterized by being detachably connectable to said medical device.

68. The implantable power module of claim 1 wherein said implantable module is monolithic.

71. The implantable power module recited in claim 1 wherein said couple for remotely communicating with said power module uses sound.

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72. A method for charging an implanted electrical storage device, comprising:

providing a power module comprising an electrochemical storage device, a secondary inductive charging coil, a charger circuit, a protection circuit, and a magnetic material;

positioning said magnetic material coaxially with said charging coil to create the strongest magnetic field in the center of said charging coil;

implanting said power module into a patient;

providing a primary charging coil comprising a primary inductive coil, a Hall effect sensor located in the center of said primary inductive coil, and a feedback device responsively connected to said Hall effect sensor;

bringing said primary charging coil in proximity to said implanted power module;

moving said primary charging coil until said feedback device signals that said primary charging coil is aligned with said secondary charging coil; and

applying a fluctuating current to said primary charging coil to cause a fluctuating field, inducing a current in said secondary charging coil thereby charging said electrochemical storage device.

73. A method for charging an implanted electrical storage device, comprising:

providing a power module comprising an electrochemical storage device, a secondary inductive charging coil, a charger circuit, a protection circuit, and at least one transponder microchip;

positioning said at least one transponder microchip in proximity to said charging coil to locate the center of said secondary charging coil;

implanting said power module into a patient;

providing a primary charging coil comprising a primary inductive coil, an RF scanner/transceiver, and a feedback device responsively connected to said RF scanner/transceiver,

bringing said primary charging coil in proximity to said implanted power module;

moving said primary charging coil until said feedback device signals that said primary charging coil is aligned with said secondary charging coil; and

applying a fluctuating current to said primary charging coil to cause a fluctuating field, inducing a current in said secondary charging coil thereby charging said electrochemical storage device.

74. The method for charging an implanted electrical storage device recited in claim 73 wherein said at least one transponder microchip comprises at least one passive transponder.

75. The method for charging an implanted electrical storage device recited in claim 73 wherein said at least one transponder microchip comprises at least one active transponder.

76. The method for charging an implanted electrical storage device recited in claim 73 wherein said at least one transponder microchip is encoded prior to being implanted.

77. The method for charging an implanted electrical storage device recited in claim 73 wherein said at least one transponder microchip is encoded remotely after being implanted.

78. The method for charging an implanted electrical storage device recited in claim 73 wherein said at least one transponder microchip is located directly under said secondary charging coil.

79. The method for charging an implanted electrical storage device recited in claim 73 wherein said at least one transponder microchip comprises an array wherein each said transponder microchip is uniquely encoded with respect to the other microchips in said array.