TRANSCEIVER COIL FOR AUDITORY PROSTHESIS

• US 20080046034A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Ibrahim, Ibrahim
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• 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: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields

Abstract

The invention provides a tuned transmitter coil for transcutaneous transmission of power and information from an external component of an auditory prosthesis to an implanted receiver. A shield is provided in order to reduce a skin-to-coil capacitance, thereby improving tuning stability of the coil from one user to the next. A shield may also be provided in order to reduce electromagnetic interference.

Claims

1-102. -102. (canceled)

103. A transmitter coil assembly of a transcutaneous energy transmission device for transferring energy across the skin of a patient, comprising:

a transmitter coil comprising at least one track each defining a spiral with a plurality of turns of electrically conductive material; and

a first shield configured to be operably disposed between the transmitter coil and the patient'"'"'s skin to reduce skin-to-coil capacitance, the first shield comprising a plurality of turns of electrically conductive material adjacent to the at least one track of the transmission coil, wherein each turn of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between neighboring turns of the plurality of turns of the spiral of the adjacent track of the transmitter coil.

104. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 103 wherein the first shield is integrally formed with the transmitter coil.

105. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 103, wherein the transmitter coil and the shield are formed on a printed circuit board.

106. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 105, wherein the transmitter coil comprises:

first and second layers of the printed circuit board, each of the first and second layers comprising a respective one of the at least one track.

107. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 106, wherein each respective spiral defined by the tracks of the first and second layers is generally circular.

108. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 106, wherein the dimensions of the track of each of the first and second layers are constructed and arranged to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

109. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 108, wherein the number of turns of the spiral is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

110. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 108, wherein the radial spacing between neighboring turns of the spiral is configured in order to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

111. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 108, wherein a substrate of the printed circuit board is constructed and arranged to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

112. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 107, wherein each turn of the spiral of the first layer is positioned adjacent to a respective gap between neighboring turns of the spiral of the second layer.

113. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 106, wherein the first shield is formed on a third layer of the printed circuit board integrally formed with the first and second layers of the printed circuit board.

114. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 113, wherein the first shield is defined by tracks on the third layer, extending in a region adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

115. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 114, wherein the tracks defining the first shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops, and wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

116. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 115, wherein the tracks defining the open loops of the first shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

117. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 115, wherein each open loop of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between neighboring turns of the spiral of the adjacent layer.

118. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 103, further comprising:

a second shield for reducing electromagnetic emissions from the transmitter coil, wherein the second shield is positioned on a side of the transmitter coil opposite to a side of the transmitter coil adjacent to which the first shield is located.

119. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 118, wherein the second shield is substantially adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

120. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 118, wherein the transmitter coil and first shield are formed on a printed circuit board, and wherein the second shield is defined by tracks on a fourth layer of the printed circuit board.

121. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 120, wherein the tracks defining the second shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops.

122. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 121, wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

123. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 120, wherein the tracks defining the second shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

124. The transmitter coil assembly of claim 120, wherein the tracks defining the second shield are positioned adjacent to gaps between neighboring turns of the spiral of an adjacent layer of the printed circuit board.

125. A transcutaneous energy transfer system comprising:

an external transmitter coil assembly comprising a transmitter coil comprising at least one track each defining a spiral with a plurality of turns of electrically conductive material and a first shield configured to be operably disposed between the transmitter coil and the patient'"'"'s skin to reduce skin-to-coil capacitance, the first shield comprising a plurality of turns of electrically conductive material adjacent to the at least one track of the transmission coil, wherein each turn of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between neighboring turns of the plurality of turns of the spiral of the adjacent track of the transmitter coil; and

an internal coil assembly comprising a receiver coil configured to be implanted in the patient.

126. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 125, wherein the transmitter coil and the shield are formed on a printed circuit board.

127. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 126, wherein the transmitter coil comprises:

first and second layers of the printed circuit board, each of the first and second layers comprising a respective one of the at least one track.

128. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 127, wherein each respective spiral defined by the tracks of the first and second layers is generally circular.

129. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 127, wherein the dimensions of the track of each of the first and second layers are constructed and arranged to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

130. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 129, wherein the radial spacing between neighboring turns of the spiral is configured in order to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

131. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 129, wherein a substrate of the printed circuit board is constructed and arranged to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

132. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 127, wherein each turn of the spiral of the first layer is positioned adjacent to a respective gap between neighboring turns of the spiral of the second layer.

133. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 127, wherein the first shield is defined by tracks on a third layer of the printed circuit board, extending in a region adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

134. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 133, wherein the tracks defining the first shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops, and wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

135. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 134, wherein the tracks defining the open loops of the first shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

136. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 134, wherein each open loop of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between neighboring turns of the spiral of the adjacent layer.

137. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 126, further comprising:

a second shield for reducing electromagnetic emissions from the transmitter coil, wherein the second shield is positioned on a side of the transmitter coil opposite to a side of the transmitter coil adjacent to which the first shield is located.

138. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 137, wherein the second shield is substantially adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

139. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 137, wherein the transmitter coil and first shield are formed on a printed circuit board, and wherein the second shield is defined by tracks on a fourth layer of the printed circuit board.

140. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 139, wherein the tracks defining the second shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops.

141. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 140, wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

142. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 139, wherein the tracks defining the second shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

143. The transcutaneous energy transfer system of claim 139, wherein the tracks defining the second shield are positioned adjacent to gaps between neighboring turns of the spiral of an adjacent layer of the printed circuit board.

144. An auditory prosthesis comprising:

external components configured to be worn on the body of a patient, comprising;

an external transmitter coil assembly comprising a transmitter coil comprising at least one track each defining a spiral with a plurality of turns of electrically conductive material and a first shield configured to be operably disposed between the transmitter coil and the patient'"'"'s skin to reduce skin-to-coil capacitance, the first shield comprising a plurality of turns of electrically conductive material adjacent to the at least one track of the transmission coil, wherein each turn of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between neighboring turns of the plurality of turns of the spiral of the adjacent track of the transmitter coil; and

an internal coil assembly comprising a receiver coil configured to be implanted in the patient.

145. The auditory prosthesis of claim 144, wherein the transmitter coil and the shield are formed on a printed circuit board.

146. The auditory prosthesis of claim 145, wherein the transmitter coil comprises:

first and second layers of the printed circuit board, each of the first and second layers comprising a respective one of the at least one track.

147. The auditory prosthesis of claim 146, wherein each respective spiral defined by the tracks of the first and second layers is generally circular.

148. The auditory prosthesis of claim 146, wherein the dimensions of the track of each of the first and second layers are constructed and arranged to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

149. The auditory prosthesis of claim 148, wherein the radial spacing between neighboring turns of the spiral is configured in order to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

150. The auditory prosthesis of claim 148, wherein a substrate of the printed circuit board is constructed and arranged to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil.

151. The auditory prosthesis of claim 146, wherein each turn of the spiral of the first layer is positioned adjacent to a respective gap between neighboring turns of the spiral of the second layer.

152. The auditory prosthesis of claim 146, wherein the first shield is defined by tracks on a third layer of the printed circuit board, extending in a region adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

153. The auditory prosthesis of claim 152, wherein the tracks defining the first shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops, and wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

154. The auditory prosthesis of claim 153, wherein the tracks defining the open loops of the first shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

155. The auditory prosthesis of claim 153, wherein each open loop of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between neighboring turns of the spiral of the adjacent layer.

156. The auditory prosthesis of claim 145, further comprising:

a second shield for reducing electromagnetic emissions from the transmitter coil, wherein the second shield is positioned on a side of the transmitter coil opposite to a side of the transmitter coil adjacent to which the first shield is located.

157. The auditory prosthesis of claim 156, wherein the second shield is substantially adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

158. The auditory prosthesis of claim 156, wherein the transmitter coil and first shield are formed on a printed circuit board, and wherein the second shield is defined by tracks on a fourth layer of the printed circuit board.

159. The auditory prosthesis of claim 158, wherein the tracks defining the second shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops.

160. The auditory prosthesis of claim 159, wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

161. The auditory prosthesis of claim 158, wherein the tracks defining the second shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

162. The auditory prosthesis of claim 158, wherein the tracks defining the second shield are positioned adjacent to gaps between neighboring turns of the spiral of an adjacent layer of the printed circuit board.