MULTI-ELEMENT ACOUSTIC RECHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20080312720A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tran, Binh C., Maile, Keith R., Mi, Bin, Harguth, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An acoustic energy delivery system for delivering acoustic energy to an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The system includes an IMD having a power source and an energy delivery device. The energy delivery device includes a controller and an array of ultrasonic elements electrically coupled to the controller and configured to deliver acoustic energy to the IMD. Methods of delivering acoustic energy to an IMD are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An acoustic energy delivery system for delivering acoustic energy to an implantable medical device (“

IMD”

) located within a patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising;

an IMD including a power source and at least one ultrasonic transducer;

an energy delivery device including a controller and an array of ultrasonic elements electrically coupled to the controller and configured to transmit an acoustic signal through the body to the IMD; and

wherein the controller is configured to selectively control one or more ultrasonic elements of the array for manipulating the acoustic signal within the body.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ultrasonic elements includes an acoustic lens or mirror.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the array of ultrasonic elements is located on a supporting structure.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the array of ultrasonic elements is located on a wearable garment or portable device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signal has a frequency of between about 20 kHz and about 200 kHz.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signal has a frequency of about 40 kHz.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the array has a polygonal, circular, annular, symmetric, or asymmetric configuration.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control one or more of the ultrasonic elements in response to a feedback signal from the IMD.

9. A method of controlling an energy delivery device for delivering acoustic energy to an implantable medical device (“

IMD”

) located within a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising;

sending one or more acoustic signals to the IMD;

processing one or more responsive signals sent by the IMD; and

operating an array of ultrasonic elements coupled to the energy delivery device based at least in part on the one or more responsive signals, wherein the ultrasonic elements are electrically coupled to a controller and are configured to output an acoustic signal for delivering acoustic energy to the IMD.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein operating the array includes operating the ultrasonic elements at a frequency of between about 20 kHz and about 200 kHz.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein operating the array includes operating the ultrasonic elements in phase.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein operating the array includes manipulating the acoustic signal using any combination of adaptive beamforming, beamsteering, or beamshaping.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein operating the array includes manipulating the acoustic signal using a time reversal technique.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further includes detecting a change in signal amplitude or signal efficiency in the responsive signals, and wherein operating the array includes operating the array in response to the changed signal amplitude or signal efficiency.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein operating the array includes mechanically focusing the acoustic signal to a desired depth within the patient'"'"'s body.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein operating the array includes cycling one or more ultrasonic elements of the array.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein operating the array includes operating a single ultrasonic element or a subset of the ultrasonic elements.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising recharging a battery or capacitor of the IMD using the acoustic signal.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising powering the IMD using the acoustic signal.

20. A method of controlling an energy delivery device for delivering acoustic energy to an implantable medical device (“

IMD”

) located within a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising;

sending a number of test pulses from an IMD to an energy delivery device, the energy delivery device including an array of ultrasonic elements electrically coupled to a controller;

entering the IMD into a charging mode of operation;

receiving the test pulses on the ultrasonic elements of the array and computing operating parameters for use in selectively controlling one or more of the ultrasonic elements;

transmitting an acoustic signal into the body based at least in part on the one or more operating parameters; and

recharging a power source within the IMD.