Methods, Systems, and Devices Relating to Wireless Power Transfer

• US 20130310629A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sunshine Heart Company Pty, Ltd. (Nuwellis, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sunshine Heart Company Pty, Ltd. (Nuwellis, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lafontaine, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US13/799,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/161 mechanically acting upon the outside of the patient's blood vessel structure, e.g. compressive structures placed around a vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/165 implantable in, on, or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/268 the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/289 Devices for mechanical circulatory actuation assisting the residual heart function by means mechanically acting upon the patient's native heart or blood vessel structure, e.g. direct cardiac compression [DCC] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/427 the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/468 the force acting on the actuation means being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/562 for making blood flow pulsatile in blood pumps that do not intrinsically create pulsatile flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/869 Compliance chambers containing a gas or liquid other than blood to compensate volume variations of a blood chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to transcutaneous energy transfer systems comprising an internal coil positioned within a cavity of a patient and an external coil inductively coupled to the internal coil. The systems can be coupled to any implantable medical devices, such as, for example, a heart assist device.

Claims

1. A transcutaneous energy transfer system comprising:

(a) an internal coil sized to be positioned within a pleural cavity of a patient, wherein the internal coil is configured to be positioned in proximity with at least one lung within the pleural cavity; and

(b) an external coil configured to be positioned in proximity to the patient such that the external coil and the internal coil are inductively coupled.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coil has a diameter of at least about 6 cm.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coil is positioned substantially against an inner wall of the pleural cavity.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a self-expanding structure operably coupled to the internal coil.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the self-expanding structure is made of a shape memory material.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the self-expanding structure is configured to expand such that the internal coil is in contact with an inner wall of the pleural cavity.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the self-expanding structure comprises at least one insulated connector configured to prevent formation of a competing electrical circuit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coil is configured to be positioned around the at least one lung.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the external coil comprises a shoulder strap cushion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the external coil is integrated into a shoulder strap, backpack, bag, vest, shirt, jacket, bed, chair, or car seat.

11. A transcutaneous energy transfer system operably coupled to a heart assist system, the transcutaneous energy transfer system comprising:

(a) an internal coil sized to be positioned within a pleural cavity of a patient;

(b) a compliance chamber associated with the internal coil; and

(c) an external coil configured to be positioned in proximity to the patient such that the external coil and the internal coil are inductively coupled.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the compliance chamber is coupled to the internal coil.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the internal coil is positioned within the compliance chamber.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the compliance chamber is an expandable compliance chamber having an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration.

15. A transcutaneous energy transfer system comprising:

(a) an internal coil sized to be positioned within a pleural cavity of a patient;

(b) a repeater coil configured to be positioned in proximity to the patient such that the repeater coil and the internal coil are inductively coupled; and

(c) an external coil configured to be positioned such that the external coil and the repeater coil are inductively coupled, whereby the external coil is inductively coupled to the internal coil.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the repeater coil is positioned in proximity to skin of the patient.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the internal coil has a diameter of at least about 6 cm.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a self-expanding structure operably coupled to the internal coil.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the external coil comprises a shoulder strap cushion.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the external coil is integrated into a shoulder strap, backpack, bag, vest, shirt, jacket, bed, chair, or car seat.