Storable implantable medical device assembly allowing in package charging

• US 20050075695A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schommer, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/37294 Means for testing medical devices within the package prior to implantation
• 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 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A storable implantable medical device assembly. An implantable medical device has a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry. A container holds the implantable medical device, the container having a first face. The implantable medical device being arranged in the container such that the secondary coil is positioned within a distance of the first face. The distance allows charging of the implantable medical device without disturbing the container. The first face of the container having indicia representative of a lateral location on the first face aligned with the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. The may then be utilized to place an external antenna in order to charge the implantable medical device without disturbing the container.

Claims

1. A storable implantable medical device assembly, comprising:

an implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry; and

a container for holding said implantable medical device, said container having a first face;

said implantable medical device being arranged in said container with said secondary coil positioned within a distance of said first face;

said distance allowing charging of said implantable medical device without disturbing said container;

said container having indicia representative of a lateral location on said first face aligned with said secondary coil of said implantable medical device;

whereby said indicia may be utilized to place an external antenna in order to charge said implantable medical device without disturbing said container.

2. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein a center of said secondary coil and said indicia are centered on said first face of said container.

3. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia is placed on said first face of said container.

4. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia is placed on at least one face of said container adjacent to said first face.

5. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia is placed on a plurality of faces of said container adjacent to said first face.

6. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia comprises cross hairs.

7. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia comprises circular indicia.

8. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia comprises concentric circles.

9. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia comprises a bulls eye.

10. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia comprises a shadow of said secondary antenna.

11. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein an interior of said container holding said implantable medical device is sterile.

12. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said distance is not more than five (5) centimeters.

13. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 12 wherein said distance is not more than two and one half (2½

) centimeters.

14. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 13 wherein said distance is approximately one (1) centimeter.

15. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said container is an internal container contained within an outer container.

16. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 15 wherein said outer container is a shipping container providing cushioning for said implantable medical device.

17. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 15 wherein said indicia is positioned on said outer container.

18. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia is positioned inside an outer layer of said container and with at least a portion of said outer container covering at least a portion of said indicia being transparent.

19. A storable implantable medical device assembly as in claim 1 wherein said indicia is represented by said implantable medical device and transparency of at least a portion of said first face of said container.

20. A shipping container for an implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry, comprising:

a container for holding said implantable medical device, said container having a first face;

said container configured to hold said implantable medical device in said container with said secondary coil positioned within a distance of said first face;

said distance allowing charging of said implantable medical device without disturbing said container;

said container having indicia representative of a lateral location on said first face aligned with said secondary coil of said implantable medical device;

whereby said indicia may be utilized to place an external antenna in order to charge said implantable medical device without disturbing said container.

21. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein a center of said secondary coil and said indicia are centered on said first face of said container.

22. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia is placed on said first face of said container.

23. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia is placed on at least one face of said container adjacent to said first face.

24. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia is placed on a plurality of faces of said container adjacent to said first face.

25. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia comprises cross hairs.

26. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia comprises circular indicia.

27. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia comprises concentric circles.

28. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia comprises a bulls eye.

29. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia comprises a shadow of said secondary antenna.

30. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein an interior of said container holding said implantable medical device is sterile.

31. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said distance is not more than five (5) centimeters.

32. A shipping container as in claim 31 wherein said distance is not more than two and one half (2½

) centimeters.

33. A shipping container as in claim 32 wherein said distance is approximately one (1) centimeter.

34. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said container is an internal container contained within an outer container.

35. A shipping container as in claim 34 wherein said outer container is a shipping container providing cushioning for said implantable medical device.

36. A shipping container as in claim 34 wherein said indicia is positioned on said outer container.

37. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia is positioned inside an outer layer of said container and with at least a portion of said outer container covering at least a portion of said indicia being transparent.

38. A shipping container as in claim 20 wherein said indicia is represented by said implantable medical device and transparency of at least a portion of said first face of said container.

39. A method of supplying an implantable medical device assembly having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry, comprising the steps of:

holding said implantable medical device in a container, said container having a first face, said implantable medical device being arranged in said container with said secondary coil positioned within a distance of said first face with said distance allowing charging of said implantable medical device without disturbing said container;

positioning indicia on said container representative of a lateral location on said first face aligned with said secondary coil of said implantable medical device; and

charging said implantable medical device without disturbing said container.

40. A method as in claim 39 wherein a center of said secondary coil and said indicia are centered on said first face of said container.

41. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia is placed on said first face of said container.

42. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia is placed on at least one face of said container adjacent to said first face.

43. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia is placed on a plurality of faces of said container adjacent to said first face.

44. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia comprises cross hairs.

45. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia comprises circular indicia.

46. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia comprises concentric circles.

47. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia comprises a bulls eye.

48. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia comprises a shadow of said secondary antenna.

49. A method as in claim 39 wherein an interior of said container holding said implantable medical device is sterile.

50. A method as in claim 39 wherein said distance is not more than five (5) centimeters.

51. A method as in claim 50 wherein said distance is not more than two and one half (2½

) centimeters.

52. A method as in claim 51 wherein said distance is approximately one (1) centimeter.

53. A method as in claim 39 wherein said container is an internal container contained within an outer container.

54. A method as in claim 53 wherein said outer container is a shipping container providing cushioning for said implantable medical device.

55. A method as in claim 53 wherein said indicia is positioned on said outer container.

56. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia is positioned inside an outer layer of said container and with at least a portion of said outer container covering at least a portion of said indicia being transparent.

57. A method as in claim 39 wherein said indicia is represented by said implantable medical device and transparency of at least a portion of said first face of said container.

58. A method as in claim 39 wherein said charging step comprises positioning an external charging coil with respect to said indicia.

59. A method as in claim 58 wherein said external charging coil is positioned on said first face of said container laterally positioned using said indicia.

60. A storable implantable medical device assembly, comprising:

an implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry; and

a container for holding said implantable medical device, said container having a first face;

said implantable medical device being arranged in said container with said secondary coil positioned within a distance of said first face;

said distance allowing charging of said implantable medical device without disturbing said container; and

said implantable medical device being located in a predetermined position within said container;

whereby an external antenna may be placed with respect to said predetermined position in order to charge said implantable medical device without disturbing said container.

61. A storable implantable medical device as in claim 60 wherein said predetermined position comprises said secondary coil being laterally centered on said first face of said container.

62. A shipping container for an implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry, comprising:

a container for holding said implantable medical device, said container having a first face;

said container configured to hold said implantable medical device in said container with said secondary coil positioned within a distance of said first face;

said distance allowing charging of said implantable medical device without disturbing said container;

said implantable medical device being located in a predetermined position within said container;

whereby an external antenna may be placed with respect to said predetermined position in order to charge said implantable medical device without disturbing said container.

63. A shipping container as in claim 62 wherein said predetermined position comprises said secondary coil being laterally centered on said first face of said container.

64. A method of supplying an implantable medical device assembly having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry, comprising the steps of:

holding said implantable medical device in a container, said container having a first face, said implantable medical device being arranged in said container with said secondary coil positioned within a distance of said first face with said distance allowing charging of said implantable medical device without disturbing said container, said implantable medical device being located in a predetermined position within said container;

positioning an external charging antenna with respect to said predetermined position; and

charging said implantable medical device without disturbing said container.

65. A method as in claim 64 wherein said predetermined position comprises said secondary coil being laterally centered on said first face of said container.