DISTRIBUTED TRANSFORMER

• US 20160199557A1
• Filed: 01/13/2016
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minnetronix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minnetronix, Inc.
• Inventors: Bluvshtein, Vlad, Lucke, Lori
• Granted Patent: US 10,342,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• 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 60/274 the inlet and outlet being the same, e.g. para-aortic counter-pulsation blood pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/875 specially adapted for optimising alignment of external and implantable coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Disclosed is a distributed transformer or extension cord component for a transcutaneous energy transfer system used to transfer electric power to an implanted medical device. The extension cord component may enable power transfer to occur at various points on or near the body of the subject within whom the medical device is implanted. In this way, the subject may gain greater flexibility and high levels of convenience in connection with use of the transcutaneous energy transfer system.

Claims

1. A distributed transformer of a transcutaneous energy transmission device, the distributed transformer component comprising

a first transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding associated with a power supply, the first transformer configured to transfer power from the primary winding to the secondary winding across a first boundary;

a second transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, the secondary winding associated with a medical device implanted within a subject, the second transformer configured to transfer power from the primary winding to the secondary winding across a second boundary that includes at least the skin of the subject; and

a cord that connects the secondary winding of the first transformer to the primary winding of the second transformer.

2. The distributed transformer of claim 1, wherein the cord is removable.

3. The distributed transformer of claim 1, wherein

the cord includes at least one capacitor connected between the secondary winding of the first transformer and the primary winding of the second transformer.

4. The distributed transformer of claim 3, wherein

the first transformer is configured for any shape or size, any location, and any orientation or combination thereof;

and

the second transformer is configured for a fixed implant location within the subject.

5. The distributed transformer of claim 3, wherein the cord between the first transformer and the second transformer allows greater separation between the primary of the first transformer and the secondary of the second transformer

6. The distributed transformer of claim 4, wherein

the first transformer is configured for a higher VA rating, a larger or smaller coupling range between the windings or a higher temperature operation than the second transformer.

7. The distributed transformer of claim 1, wherein the first boundary includes an article of clothing worn by the subject.

8. The distributed transformer of claim 7, wherein the article of clothing is a vest.

9. The distributed transformer of claim 7, wherein the article of clothing is a backpack.

10. The distributed transformer of claim 7, wherein

the article of clothing includes the power supply and the primary winding of the first transformer;

and

the secondary winding of the first transformer, the cord, and the primary winding of the second transformer are attached to the subject.

11. The distributed transformer of claim 7, wherein

the article of clothing includes the power supply and the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer;

and

a portion of the cord and the primary winding of the second transformer are attached to subject.

12. The distributed transformer of claim 7, wherein

the article of clothing includes the power supply, the first transformer, and the primary winding of the second transformer.

13. The distributed transformer of claim 7, wherein

the article of clothing includes the secondary winding of the first transformer, the primary winding of the second transformer, and

the cord;

and the power supply and the primary winding of the first transformer are worn by the subject in a separate article of clothing.

14. The distributed transformer of claim 7, wherein

the primary winding of the first transformer is a single coil;

and

the secondary winding of the first transformer is in an inductive track configured to wrap around the body of the subject; and

the inductive track is at least one of a rectangular inductive loop or a plurality of sequentially connected coils.

15. The distributed transformer of claim 1, wherein

the first boundary is a portion of an object used by the subject;

and

the power supply and the primary winding of the first transformer are embedded within the object.

16. The distributed transformer of claim 15, wherein

the secondary winding of the transformer, the cord, and the primary winding of the second transformer are incorporated into an article of clothing configured to be worn by the subject;

the secondary winding of the first transformer is positioned in the article of clothing so as to align with the primary winding of the first transformer the subject wears the article of clothing and uses the object;

the first boundary includes a first portion of the article of clothing; and

the second boundary includes a second portion of the article of clothing.

17. The distributed transformer of claim 16, wherein the article of clothing is a vest worn by the subject.

18. The distributed transformer of claim 15, wherein the object used by the subject is a piece of furniture and the primary winding of the first transformer is positioned in the piece of furniture so as to align with the secondary winding of the first transformer when the subject uses the piece of furniture.

19. The distributed transformer of claim 15, wherein the object used by the subject is a backpack and the primary winding of the first transformer is positioned in the backpack so as to align with the secondary winding of the first transformer when subject wears the backpack.

20. The distributed transformer of claim 19, wherein the backpack is waterproof.

21. The distributed transformer of claim 14, wherein

the primary winding of the first transformer includes an array of coils arranged in a plane and embedded within the object used by the subject;

the secondary winding of the first transformer is in an inductive track configured to wrap around the body of the subject;

the inductive track is at least one of a rectangular inductive loop or a plurality of sequentially connected coils; and

at least a portion of the secondary winding of the first transformer couples to the array of coils through at least one coil in the array of coils.

22. The distributed transformer of claim 21, wherein the amount of coupling between the secondary winding of the first transformer and the array of coils is unaffected by the rotational position of the subject about a longitudinal axis.

23. The distributed transformer of claim 21, wherein the secondary winding of the first transformer includes a plurality of coils arranged along a surface of the material.

24. The distributed transformer of claim 21, wherein secondary winding of the first transformer includes a single inductive track arranged along a surface of the material.

25. The distributed transformer of claim 21, wherein the object used by the subject is a mattress.

26. The distributed transformer of claim 21, wherein the object used by the subject is a chair.

27. A method for transferring power across multiple boundaries in a transcutaneous energy transmission device, comprising

driving a primary winding of a first transformer with an electrical signal;

inducing an electrical signal in a secondary winding of the first transformer by coupling at least a portion of the electrical signal in the primary winding of the first transformer across a first boundary;

driving a primary winding of a second transformer with the electrical signal induced in the secondary winding of the first transformer, wherein the electrical signal is transmitted along a cord from the secondary winding of the first transformer to the primary winding of the second transformer; and

inducing an electrical signal in a secondary winding of the second transformer implanted in a subject by coupling at least a portion of the electrical signal in the primary winding of the second transformer across a second boundary that includes the skin of the subject.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising

moving the secondary winding of the first transformer so as to translate a power transfer location on the body of the subject from a fixed location adjacent the implanted secondary winding of the second transformer to a variable location that is selectable by the subject.

29. A distributed transformer of a transcutaneous energy transmission device, the distributed transformer component comprising

a first transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding associated with a power supply, the first transformer configured to transfer power from the primary winding to the secondary winding across a first boundary that includes at least the skin of the subject;

a second transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, the secondary winding associated with a medical device implanted within a subject, the second transformer configured to transfer power from the primary winding to the secondary winding across a second boundary; and

a cord that connects the secondary winding of the first transformer to the primary winding of the second transformer.

30. The distributed transformer of claim 29, wherein the medical device is a mechanical circulatory device.

31. The distributed transformer of claim 29, wherein

the cord includes at least one capacitor connected between the secondary winding of the first transformer and the primary winding of the second transformer.

32. The distributed transformer of claim 29, wherein

the first transformer is configured for a fixed implant location within the subject;

and

the second transformer is configured for any shape or size, any location, and any orientation or combination thereof.

33. The distributed transformer of claim 29, wherein the second boundary includes a portion of an implanted medical device.