RESONANT POWER TRANSMISSION COILS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20150222128A1
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Inventors: Hansen, John Freddy
• Granted Patent: US 10,251,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/122 Implantable pumps or pumping devices, i.e. the blood being pumped inside the patient's 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 60/873 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: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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

An improved wireless transmission system for transferring power over a distance. The system includes a transmitter generating a magnetic field and a receiver for inducing a voltage in response to the magnetic field. In various respects, the receiver is configured to be implanted in a body. The receiver may include a housing enclosing a receiving coil and associated electronic components, a covering around at least a portion of the housing, and at least two wires wrapped around the housing to form a plurality of turns. The covering may be formed of a ferrite material configured to both magnetically shield a respective portion of the internal volume of the housing and redirect incoming magnetic flux from the transmitter to improve efficiency. Methods of use are also provided.

Claims

1. An implantable receiver configured to receive wireless energy, comprising:

a housing including internal components susceptible to interference by magnetic flux;

a covering disposed on at least a portion of the housing, the covering being formed of a ferrite material configured to both magnetically shield a respective portion of components in the housing and redirect incoming magnetic flux from an external transmitter;

at least two wires wrapped around the housing to form a receiver coil.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the internal components of the receiver comprise receiver circuitry configured to transmit power excited in the receiver coil in response to the incoming magnetic flux to a load connected to the implantable receiver.

3. The receiver of claim 2, wherein the load is an implantable medical device including an operative component.

4. The receiver of claim 3, wherein the operative component is a circulatory support device.

5. The receiver of claim 3, wherein the operative component is a blood pump.

6. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a plurality of tiles.

7. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the covering covers the entire housing periphery.

8. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the covering is configured to redirect incoming magnetic flux from the external transmitter towards the receiver coil to improve power transfer efficiency.

9. A method of improving efficiency in a wireless power transfer system, comprising the steps of:

generating magnetic flux with an external transmitter positioned near a patient towards a receiver implanted in the patient;

directing the magnetic flux towards a receiver coil of the receiver with a ferrite covering that surrounds at least a portion of the receiver.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the covering comprises a plurality of ferrite tiles.