Transcutaneous energy transfer primary coil with a high aspect ferrite core

• US 20050288742A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Giordano, James R., Hassler, William L. Jr., Dlugos, Daniel F. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Adjustable gastric band implants contain a hollow elastomeric balloon with fixed end points encircling a patient'"'"'s stomach just inferior to the esophago-gastric junction. These balloons can expand and contract through the introduction of saline solution into the balloon. In current bands, this saline solution must be injected into a subcutaneous port with a needle to reach the port located below the skin surface. The port communicates hydraulically with the band via a catheter. As an alternative to using a percutaneously accessed injection port, a system for regulating the flow of saline that is totally implanted may rely upon bi-directionally pumping fluid from an implant device. This system instead transfers AC magnetic flux energy from an external primary coil to a secondary coil that powers the pump in the implanted reservoir. A magnetically permeable rod centered within the primary coil increases power coupled to the secondary coil.

Claims

1. A transcutaneous energy transfer device comprising:

an external primary coil to which energy to be transferred is applied;

an implanted secondary coil configured to be inductively coupled to the primary coil and connected to apply energy to a subcutaneous utilization device; and

a member centered within the primary coil opposite the secondary coil and formed from a magnetically permeable material.

2. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 1, wherein the member comprises a ferrite material.

3. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 2, wherein the member comprises a rod.

4. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 1, wherein the member comprises an elongate rod that has a length of between about one inch and four inches.

5. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 4, wherein the member comprises a rod having a length of about three inches and a diameter of about three-quarter inches.

6. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 5, wherein the member comprises a ferrite material.

7. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 2, further comprising a magnetic shield comprising a backplane attached to the member and covering a side of the primary coil opposite to the secondary coil.

8. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 7, wherein the magnetic shield further comprises a cylindrical flange attached and inwardly directed from the backplane to define a ring groove to receive the primary coil.

9. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 1, wherein the member comprises a plurality of slender components aligned to a central axis of the primary coil and attached to adjacent ones of the plurality of slender components by an electrically insulating material.

10. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of slender components are formed from steel.

11. The transcutaneous energy transfer device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of slender components are formed from ferrite.

12. A transcutaneous energy transfer device comprising:

an external primary coil to which energy to be transferred is applied;

an implanted secondary coil configured to be inductively coupled to the primary coil and connected to apply energy to a subcutaneous utilization device; and

a slender cylindrical member centered and longitudinally aligned with a center axis of the primary coil, the member formed from a ferrite material.

13. A transcutaneous energy transfer device for inductively coupling to an implanted secondary coil connected to apply energy to a subcutaneous utilization device, the transcutaneous energy transfer device comprising:

an external primary coil to which energy to be transferred is applied; and

a member centered within the primary coil opposite the secondary coil and formed from a magnetically permeable material; and

excitation circuitry operatively configured to selectively energize the external primary coil.