SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR SYSTEM

• US 20150174416A1
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Angara, Raghavendra, Khalil, Saif, Curtis, Miles, Biele, Christopher, Fellmeth, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,872,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36142 for improving safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A wireless charger system for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) implanted in a human body is provided. A charging coil in the charger is wirelessly coupled to a receiving coil of the IPG to charge the rechargeable battery. An end-of-charge (EOC) circuit continuously monitors the reflected impedance from a reflected impedance sensor and determines the end of charge when a predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance corresponding to an EOC signal from the IPG is received. Advantageously, receiving the EOC signal through the charging coil eliminates the need to provide a separate communication circuit in the IPG that communicates with the charger.

Claims

1. A wireless charger system for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) implanted in a human body, the wireless charger system comprising:

a charging coil adapted to be wirelessly coupled to a receiving coil of the IPG to charge the rechargeable battery;

a reflected impedance sensor coupled to the charging coil to detect a reflected impedance of the charging coil;

an end-of-charge (EOC) circuit coupled to the reflected impedance sensor, the EOC circuit adapted to continuously monitor the reflected impedance from the reflected impedance sensor and determine the end of charge when a predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance corresponding to an EOC signal from the IPG is received.

5. The wireless charger system of claim 1, further comprising the IPG, wherein the IPG includes a processor adapted to vary the current being received by the receiving coil in a selected pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance.

6. The wireless charger system of claim 1, further comprising a vibrator and the EOC circuit controls the vibrator to output a tactile signal indicative of the EOC of the IPG when the EOC has been determined.

7. The wireless charger system of claim 1, further comprising a vibrator and a speaker, wherein the EOC circuit controls the vibrator and the speaker to output tactile and audible signals indicative of the EOC of the IPG when the EOC has been determined.

8. The wireless charger system of claim 1, wherein when the EOC has been determined, the EOC circuit turns off current to the charging coil.

2. The wireless charger system of claim 2, further comprising the IPG, wherein the IPG includes an EOC switch adapted to electrically short the receiving coil to ground in a selected pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance.

3. The wireless charger system of claim 2, wherein the IPG further comprises a processor coupled to the switch and adapted to activate the EOC switch a selected number of times.

4. The wireless charger system of claim 2, wherein the IPG further comprises a processor coupled to the switch and adapted to activate the EOC switch at least three times.

9. A method for a wireless charger system for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that generates spinal cord stimulation signals for a human body, the method comprising:

applying a charging signal that inductively charges the rechargeable battery of the IPG;

continuously monitoring a reflected impedance from a reflected impedance sensor while the charging signal is being applied; and

determining an end-of-charge (EOC) when a predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance corresponding to an EOC signal from the IPG is received.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

electrically shorting to ground a receiving coil of the IPG in a selected pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of electrically shorting includes switching by a processor a switch connected between the receiving coil and ground a selected number of times which is indicative of the EOC signal from the IPG.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of electrically shorting includes switching by a processor a switch connected between the receiving coil and ground at least three times.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising varying by the IPG the current being received by the receiving coil in a selected pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising outputting a tactile signal indicative of the EOC of the IPG when the EOC has been determined.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

outputting both a tactile signal and an audible signal indicative of the EOC of the IPG when the EOC has been determined.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising wherein when the EOC has been determined, turning off current to the charging coil.