INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR PALATAL IMPLANT
First Claim
1. A device for powering an airway implant, comprising:
- a mouthpiece;
a power transfer circuit attached to the mouthpiece, comprising;
a battery;
a receive circuit configured to receive a first inductive power transfer from an external device and to charge the battery with a current induced in the receive circuit by the external device, anda transmit circuit configured to receive power from the battery and to provide a second inductive power transfer to the airway implant.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive power transfer system associated with an airway implant device is disclosed. A non-implanted portion of the system comprises a mouthpiece or retainer. The mouthpiece includes a power transfer circuit and a power source. The power transfer circuit includes a receive circuit configured to receive a first inductive power transfer from a charging device and to deliver a charging current to the power source. The power transfer circuit also includes a transmit circuit coupled to the power source. The transmit circuit is configured to provide a second inductive power transfer from the mouthpiece to the airway implant. Some embodiments of the non-implanted portion include a charge controller and a lithium polymer battery. Some embodiments of the charging device include a microcontroller for controlling operation of the charging device based on a proximity of the mouthpiece.
203 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A device for powering an airway implant, comprising:
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a mouthpiece; a power transfer circuit attached to the mouthpiece, comprising; a battery; a receive circuit configured to receive a first inductive power transfer from an external device and to charge the battery with a current induced in the receive circuit by the external device, and a transmit circuit configured to receive power from the battery and to provide a second inductive power transfer to the airway implant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A charging device for use with an airway implant system comprising a mouthpiece and an airway implant, the device comprising:
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a housing adapted to receive the mouthpiece; a power transfer circuit configured to source an inductive power transfer when the mouthpiece is received at the housing, the power transfer circuit comprising a power transmission coil; a proximity detection circuit configured to detect a proximity of the mouthpiece to the power transmission coil and to generate an output signal based on said proximity, wherein the charging device initiates the inductive power transfer when a value of the output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for powering an airway implant, comprising:
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a non-implanted portion adapted and configured to be worn in a patient'"'"'s mouth; a power transfer circuit attached to the non-implanted portion, comprising; a receive circuit configured to receive a first inductive power transfer from a charging device and to charge a battery with a current induced in the receive circuit by the charging device, and a transmit circuit coupled to the battery and configured to provide a second inductive power transfer from the non-implanted portion to the airway implant; and a first microprocessor coupled to the power transfer circuit and configured to control operation of the transmit and receive circuits. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of powering an airway implant device having a non-implanted portion and an implant portion, the method comprising:
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receiving a first inductive power transfer at the non-implanted portion; charging a power source of the non-implanted portion with a current derived from the first inductive power transfer; and performing a second inductive transfer from the non-implanted portion to the implant portion, wherein the power source supplies energy for the second inductive power transfer.
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38. An inductively powering system comprising of an implanted receiver in the body cavity and/or tissue that is coupled to a prosthesis;
- and a wearable transmitter device that includes a power source.
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39. An inductive power transfer system, comprising:
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a prosthesis; a receiver implanted in a body cavity and coupled to the prosthesis; and a wearable transmitter, comprising; a power source configured to supply an inductive power transfer to the receiver for operating the prosthesis, and a timer coupled to the power source and configured to define an interval during which the first inductive power transfer is disabled.
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40. A method of treating a patient suffering from sleep disordered breathing by placing an implant in the upper airway and inductively powering the implant by means of an implanted receiver and a wearable transmitter that includes a power source.
Specification