Position-Determining External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device

• US 20130096650A1
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Aghassian, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,211,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An improved external charger for an implantable medical device is disclosed in which charging is at least partially controlled based on a determined position of the external charger, which position may be indicative of the pressure between the external charger and a patient'"'"'s tissue. The improved external charger includes one or more position determination elements, e.g., an accelerometer or gyrometer, and control circuitry for controlling the external device in accordance with the determined position. The determined position of the external charger can be used to control charging, for example, by suspending charging, by adjusting the intensity of charging, by adjusting a maximum set point temperature for the external charger, or issuing an alert via a suitable user interface. By so controlling the external charger on the basis of the determined position, the external charger is less likely to create potentially problematic or uncomfortable conditions for the user.

Claims

1. An external charger for an implantable medical device, comprising:

a coil for wirelessly providing power to the implantable medical device;

at least one position determination element for determining a position of the external charger, wherein the at least one position determination element comprises an accelerometer or gyrometer; and

control circuitry coupled to the at least one position determination element for controlling the external charger in accordance with the determined position.

2. The external charger of claim 1, wherein controlling the external charger in accordance with the determined position further comprises controlling the power in accordance with the determined position.

3. The external charger of claim 2, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the external charger, wherein the control circuitry additionally controls the power in accordance with the sensed temperature.

4. The external charger of claim 2, further comprising a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of the external charger, wherein the control circuitry additionally controls the power in accordance with the sensed pressure.

5. The external charger of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry controls the power in accordance with the determined position by adjusting a temperature set point for the external charger.

6. The external charger of claim 1, further comprising a warning indicator, wherein the warning indicator issues an alert in accordance with the determined position.

7. The external charger of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry controls the power in accordance with the determined position by disabling the coil.

8. The external charger of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry controls the power in accordance with the determined position by modifying an intensity of the power.

9. The external charger of claim 8, wherein the intensity is modified by modifying a current of the coil.

10. The external charger of claim 1, further comprising a case for housing the coil, the at least one position determining element, and the control circuitry.

11. The external charger of claim 10, wherein the at least one position determination element is mounted to a printed circuit board within the case.

13. The external charger of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry further determines whether the position corresponds to at least one critical position programmed into the external charger.

14. The external charger of claim 13, wherein the at least one critical position comprises at least one position wherein the external charger is substantially face down.

15. The external charger of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry further controls the power when it is determined to be in the critical position for a period of time.

16. The external charger of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry compares the position to a plurality of position ranges, and wherein the control circuitry controlling the power in accordance with one of the position ranges corresponding to the determined position.

17. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises a microcontroller.

18. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the determined position comprises a position relative to a gravity vector.

12. (canceled)

19. A system, comprising:

an external device, comprising;

a coil for providing a wireless transmission,

at least one position determination element for determining a position of the external device relative to a gravity vector, and

control circuitry coupled to the at least one position determination element for controlling the external device in accordance with the determined position; and

an implantable medical device for receiving the wireless transmission from the external device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the external device further comprise a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the external device, wherein the control circuitry additionally controls the external device in accordance with the sensed temperature.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the external device further comprise a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of the external device, wherein the control circuitry additionally controls the external device in accordance with the sensed pressure.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry controls the external device in accordance with the determined position by adjusting a temperature set point for the external device.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry controls the external device in accordance with the determined position by issuing an alert.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry controls the external device in accordance with the determined position by disabling the coil.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry controls the external device in accordance with the determined position by modifying an intensity of the wireless transmission.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one position determination element comprises an accelerometer or gyrometer.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry further determines whether the position corresponds to at least one critical position programmed into the external device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the control circuitry controls the external device when it is determined to be in the critical position for a period of time.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry compares the position to a plurality of position ranges, and wherein the control circuitry controls the external device in accordance with one of the position ranges corresponding to the determined position.

30. (canceled)

31. A method for operating an external charger, comprising:

enabling the external charger to wirelessly transmit power to an implanted medical device during a charging session;

determining a position of the external charger in three-dimensional space during the charging session; and

controlling the external charger during the charging session in accordance with the determined position.