Medical implant having closed loop transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) power transfer regulation circuitry
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device receiving a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) signal from a primary circuit at a resonance frequency, the implantable medical device comprising:
- an active load requiring a supply power;
a secondary coil coupled to capacitance selected to form a resonant tank circuit responsive to the TET signal to produce a received signal;
a rectifier converting the received signal into a supply power for the active load;
detuning circuitry; and
power control circuitry responsive to a sensed value of the supply power to selectively switch the detuning circuit into electrical communication with the secondary coil to reduce a power transfer characteristic of the received signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable medical device, such as a bi-directional infuser device for hydraulically controlling an artificial sphincter (e.g., adjustable gastric band) benefits from being remotely powered by transcutaneous energy transfer (TET), obviating the need for batteries. In order for active components in the medical device to operate, a sinusoidal power signal received by a secondary coil is rectified and filtered. An amount of power transferred is modulated. In one version, a voltage comparison is made of a resulting power supply voltage as referenced to a threshold to control pulse width modulation (PWM) of the received sinusoidal power signal, achieving voltage regulation. Versions incorporate detuning or uncoupling of the secondary coil to achieve PWM control without causing excessive heating of the medical device.
399 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device receiving a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) signal from a primary circuit at a resonance frequency, the implantable medical device comprising:
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an active load requiring a supply power;
a secondary coil coupled to capacitance selected to form a resonant tank circuit responsive to the TET signal to produce a received signal;
a rectifier converting the received signal into a supply power for the active load;
detuning circuitry; and
power control circuitry responsive to a sensed value of the supply power to selectively switch the detuning circuit into electrical communication with the secondary coil to reduce a power transfer characteristic of the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system, comprising:
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an external portion, comprising;
a primary circuit operably configured to resonate at a resonance frequency, an excitation circuit in electrical communication with the primary circuit and operably configured to create an alternating magnetic field at the resonance frequency; and
an implantable medical device, comprising;
an active load requiring a supply power having electrical parameters within respective ranges;
a secondary coil coupled to capacitance selected to form a resonant tank circuit responsive to the TET signal to produce a received signal;
circuitry coupled to the resonant tank circuit and operatively configured to convert the received signal into the supply power for the active load;
detuning circuitry; and
power regulation circuitry operably configured to respond to an electrical parameter related to power delivered to the active load to selectively couple the detuning circuitry to the secondary coil. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system, comprising:
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an external portion, comprising;
an excitation circuit, and a primary circuit operably configured to resonate a TET signal within a resonance frequency band in response to the excitation circuit; and
an implantable medical device, comprising;
an active load requiring a supply voltage within a specified voltage range;
a secondary coil coupled to capacitance selected to form a resonant tank circuit responsive to the TET signal to produce a received signal; and
a means for regulating electrical characteristics of the received signal delivered to the active load.
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Specification