Intermediate Coupler to Facilitate Charging in an Implantable Medical Device System

• US 20140114373A1
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Aghassian, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/941,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20140114373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• 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 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An intermediate coupler is used to improve inductive coupling between an external charger and an implantable medical device having a battery requiring charging. The intermediate coupler comprises a coil (inductor) coupled to a capacitor, whose values are chosen to resonate at the frequency of the magnetic field emitted by the external charger. The intermediate coupler preferably contains no power source such as a battery, and can operate passively. When the intermediate coupler receives the magnetic field from the external charger, a current is induced in its coil, and the intermediate coupler generates its own magnetic field which is captured by the implantable medical device and used to charge its battery.

Claims

1. A system for charging a battery in an implantable medical device of a patient, comprising:

an external charger comprising a first coil, wherein the first coil is configured to emit a first alternating current (AC) magnetic field; and

a coupler comprising a second coil, wherein the second coil is configured to receive the first AC magnetic field and generate a second AC magnetic field in response; and

an implantable medical device comprising a third coil and a battery,

wherein the third coil in the implantable medical device is configured to receive the second AC magnetic field to charge the battery.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second coil has a second area, the third coil has a third area, and the second area is larger than the third area.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first AC magnetic field and the second AC magnetic field have the same frequency.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the external charger is hand-holdable or body-wearable, and portable.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the external charger is stationary.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is portable.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is integrated into a home furnishing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the external charger is integrated into a home furnishing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is incorporated into an article wearable by the patient.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler does not contain a battery or a wall plug.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is positionable between the external charger and the implantable medical device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is positionable behind the implantable medical device from the vantage of the external charger.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler resonates when receiving the first AC magnetic field, and wherein such resonance generates the second AC magnetic field.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the external charger is configured to generate the first AC magnetic field automatically upon detecting the implantable medical device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the third coil in the implantable medical device is further configured to receive the first AC magnetic field to charge the battery.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler further comprises a capacitor coupled to the second coil.

17. A system for charging a battery in an implantable medical device of a patient, comprising:

an external charger configured to emit a first AC magnetic field; and

a circuit configured to receive the first AC magnetic field and to resonate to generate a second magnetic field in response for charging the battery in the implantable medical device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the circuit is not powered from a power source.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the circuit comprises a coil coupled in parallel to a capacitor.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first AC magnetic field and the second AC magnetic field have the same frequency.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the external charger comprises automatic tuning circuitry for tuning the frequency of the first AC magnetic field.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the external charger is hand-holdable and portable.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the external charger is stationary.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the circuit is portable.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the circuit is integrated into a home furnishing.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the external charger is integrated into a home furnishing.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the circuit is incorporated into an article wearable by the patient.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the circuit is positionable between the external charger and the implantable medical device.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the circuit is positionable behind the implantable medical device from the vantage of the external charger.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the external charger is configured to generate the first AC magnetic field automatically upon detecting the implantable medical device.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein the first AC magnetic field is further for charging the battery in the implantable medical device.

32. A device for facilitating charging of a battery in an implantable medical device of a patient, comprising:

an article positionable in proximity to the patient'"'"'s implantable medical device, the article comprising a coupler comprising a coil, wherein the coil is configured to receive an first AC magnetic field from an external charger to generate a second AC magnetic field in response for charging the battery of the implantable medical device.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the first AC magnetic field and the second AC magnetic field have the same frequency.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the article is wearable by the patient.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the wearable article is configured to hold the external charger.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the wearable article is further configured to hold the external charger proximate to the coil of the coupler.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the wearable article holds the external charger within an area bounded by the coil of the coupler.

38. The device of claim 32, wherein the article further comprises a pocket configured to hold the external charging device.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the pocket is configured such that the coupler is positioned between the external charger and the implantable medical device.

40. The device of claim 32, wherein the coupler is not powered from a power source.

41. The device of claim 32, wherein the coupler resonates when receiving the first AC magnetic field, and wherein such resonance generates the second AC magnetic field.

42. The device of claim 32, wherein the article comprises a belt wearable around the patient'"'"'s waist.

43. The device of claim 32, wherein the article comprises a shoulder harness for facilitating the charging of a battery in a chest-positioned implantable medical device.

44. The device of claim 32, wherein the coupler further comprises a capacitor coupled to the coil.