External Charger Usable with an Implantable Medical Device Having a Programmable or Time-Varying Temperature Set Point
First Claim
1. An external charger for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:
- a coil for producing energy receivable by the implantable medical device to power or charge the implantable medical device;
temperature monitoring and control circuitry for sensing a temperature of the external charger and controlling activation of the coil in accordance with at least one temperature set point,wherein the temperature set point is programmable, andwherein the temperature monitoring and control circuitry controls activation of the coil in accordance with a maximum temperature set point and a minimum temperature set point.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved external charger for charging the battery within or providing power to an implantable medical device is disclosed. The improved external charger includes circuitry for detecting the temperature of the external charger and for controlling charging to prevent exceeding a maximum temperature. The external charger in some embodiments includes a user interface for allowing a patient to set the external charger'"'"'s maximum temperature. The user interface can be used to select either constant maximum temperatures, or can allow the user to choose from a number of stored charging programs, which programs can control the maximum temperature to vary over time. Alternatively, a charging program in the external charger can vary the maximum temperature set point automatically. By controlling the maximum temperature of the external charger during charging in these manners, the time needed to charge can be minimized while still ensuring a temperature that is comfortable for that patient.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An external charger for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a coil for producing energy receivable by the implantable medical device to power or charge the implantable medical device; temperature monitoring and control circuitry for sensing a temperature of the external charger and controlling activation of the coil in accordance with at least one temperature set point, wherein the temperature set point is programmable, and wherein the temperature monitoring and control circuitry controls activation of the coil in accordance with a maximum temperature set point and a minimum temperature set point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7)
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6. (canceled)
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8. An external charger for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a coil for producing energy receivable by the implantable medical device to power or charge the implantable medical device; temperature monitoring and control circuitry for detecting a temperature of the external charger and controlling activation of the coil in accordance with a temperature set point; and memory comprising a temperature program for indicating the temperature set point to the temperature monitoring and control circuitry during a charging session, wherein the temperature set point varies during a charging session. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An external charger for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a coil for producing energy receivable by the implantable medical device to power or charge the implantable medical device; temperature monitoring and control circuitry for detecting a temperature of the external charger and controlling activation of the coil in accordance with a temperature set point; and memory comprising a plurality of temperature programs for indicating the temperature set point to the temperature monitoring and control circuitry during a charging session, wherein the temperature programs are selectable by a user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An external charger for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a coil, selectively activated for producing energy receivable by the implantable medical device to power or recharge the implantable medical device; a temperature-sensitive element for detecting the temperature of the external charger; control circuitry configured to disable or reduce activation of the coil when the external charger temperature during a charging session is above a programmable maximum temperature; and a user interface, configured to program the programmable maximum temperature, wherein the programmable maximum temperature varies over time during the charging session. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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20. (canceled)
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29. A system, comprising:
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an implantable medical device, comprising a first coil for receiving energy to provide power for operating the implantable medical device; an external charger, comprising; a coil for producing the energy, and temperature monitoring and control circuitry for monitoring a temperature of the external charger and controlling activation of the coil in accordance with at least one temperature set point; and an external controller configured to allow a patient to control therapy settings in the implantable medical device, wherein the external controller comprises a user interface configured to allow a user to provide the temperature set point to the external charger. - View Dependent Claims (32, 34)
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30-31. -31. (canceled)
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33. (canceled)
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35. A system, comprising:
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an implantable medical device, comprising; a first coil for receiving energy to provide power for operating the implantable medical device; and an external charger, comprising; a second coil, selectively stimulated for producing energy receivable by the first coil; and a control circuitry comprising a temperature-sensitive element for detecting the temperature of a portion of the external charger, the control circuitry configured to disable activation of the second coil when the external charger temperature is above a programmable maximum temperature, wherein the programmable maximum temperature varies over time during a charging session. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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36. (canceled)
Specification