DATA COMMUNICATION IN A TRANSCUTANEOUS ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM

• US 20160206799A1
• Filed: 01/14/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minnetronix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lori Lucke, Vlad Bluvshtein
• Inventors: Kurkowski, James, Lucke, Lori, Bluvshtein, Vlad, Weiss, William
• Granted Patent: US 10,406,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/196 replacing the entire heart, e.g. total artificial hearts [TAH]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/411 generated by an electromotor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for use of an inductive link for a communication channel in a transcutaneous energy transfer system.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data in a transcutaneous energy transmission device, comprising

transferring electrical power from an external primary to an implanted secondary by driving the external primary with a first time-varying electrical signal such that a second time-varying electrical signal is induced in the implanted secondary;

encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal by modulating an attribute of the first time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary; and

receiving the data signal at the implanted secondary by demodulating the secondary time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal includes modulating the amplitude of the first time-varying electrical signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the amplitude of the first time-varying electrical signal is modulated using a transformer connected to the drain of a power transistor used to transfer power from the primary to the secondary.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the amplitude of the first time-varying electrical signal is modulated by modulating an output of a signal driver that is connected to the gate of a power transistor used to transfer power from the primary to the secondary.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the amplitude of the first time-varying electrical signal is indirectly modulated by shifting the first time-varying electrical signal among different subharmonic frequencies.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising

alternating the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

wherein the operation of encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal by modulating the amplitude of the first time-varying electrical signal occurs during the power supply mode

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising

alternating the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

wherein the operation of encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal by modulating the amplitude of the first time-varying electrical signal occurs during the idle mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal includes modulating the frequency of the first time-varying electrical signal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the frequency of the first time-varying electrical signal is directly modulated by shifting the first time-varying electrical signal within a range of drive frequencies.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising

alternating the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

wherein the operation of encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal by modulating the frequency of the first time-varying electrical signal occurs during the power supply mode.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising

alternating the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

wherein the operation of encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal by modulating the frequency of the first time-varying electrical signal occurs during the idle mode.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal includes modulating the phase of the first time-varying electrical signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising

alternating the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and a lower power mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

wherein the operation of encoding the first time-varying signal with a data signal by modulating the phase of the first time-varying electrical signal occurs during the power supply mode.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the data signal is a first data signal, the method further comprising

encoding the second time-varying signal with a second data signal by modulating an attribute of the second time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary;

and

receiving the second data signal at the external primary by demodulating the first time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising time multiplexing the first and second data signals.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein

encoding the first time-varying signal with the first data signal includes modulating the amplitude of the first time-varying electrical signal at a first amplitude level;

encoding the second time-varying signal with the second data signal includes modulating the amplitude of the second time-varying electrical signal at a second amplitude level that is different from the first amplitude level; and

the first and second time varying signals are modulated at the same time.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein

encoding the first time-varying signal with the first data signal includes modulating the frequency of the first time-varying electrical signal;

encoding the second time-varying signal with the second data signal includes modulating the amplitude of the second time-varying electrical signal; and

the first and second time varying signals are modulated at the same time.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein

encoding the first time-varying signal with the first data signal includes modulating the phase of the first time-varying electrical signal;

encoding the second time-varying signal with the second data signal includes modulating the amplitude of the second time-varying electrical signal; and

the first and second time varying signals are modulated at the same time.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising

alternating the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

wherein the operation of encoding the second time-varying signal with the second data signal by modulating an attribute of the second time-varying electrical signal occurs during the idle mode

20. The method of claim 14, wherein

the second time-varying electrical signal is modulated by a resistive loading of a circuit that includes a resonant tank associated with the secondary;

and

the first time-varying electrical signal is demodulated in the primary by sensing changes that occur in a primary current due to the resistive loading in the secondary.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein

the second time-varying electrical signal is modulated by a reactive loading of a circuit that includes a resonant tank associated with the secondary;

and

the first time-varying electrical signal is demodulated in the primary by sensing changes that occur in the primary current due to the reactive loading in the secondary.

22. A method of communicating data in a transcutaneous energy transmission device, comprising

transferring electrical power from an external primary to an implanted secondary by driving the external primary with a first time-varying electrical signal such that a second time-varying electrical signal is induced in the implanted secondary;

alternating the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

encoding the secondary time-varying signal with a data signal by modulating an attribute of the second time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary; and

receiving the data signal at the external primary by demodulating the first time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary;

wherein the operation of encoding the second time-varying signal with the second data signal by modulating an attribute of the second time-varying electrical signal occurs during the idle mode.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein

the second time-varying electrical signal is modulated by a resistive loading of a circuit that includes a resonant tank associated with the secondary;

and

the first time-varying electrical signal is demodulated in the primary by sensing changes that occur in a primary current due to the resistive loading in the secondary.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein

the second time-varying electrical signal is modulated by a reactive loading of a circuit that includes a resonant tank associated with the secondary;

and

the first time-varying electrical signal is demodulated in the primary by sensing changes that occur in the primary current due to the reactive loading in the secondary.

25. A system for communicating data in an transcutaneous energy transfer system, comprising

a resonant circuit associated with an external primary;

a power transistor connected to the resonant circuit and configured to drive the resonant circuit with a first time-varying electrical signal;

a power driver connected to the power transistor and configured to set the frequency of the time-varying electrical signal to a resonant frequency to enable power transfer from the external primary to an implanted secondary; and

a communication driver operatively connected to the power transistor and configured to encode the first time-varying electrical signal with a data signal by modulating an attribute of the time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein

the first time-varying electrical signal induces a second time-varying electrical signal in the implanted secondary;

and

the implanted secondary includes a communication receiver configured to receive the data signal by demodulating the secondary time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising

a transformer having a primary side connected to the communication driver and a secondary that connects the DC power source to the high side of the power transistor;

wherein the communication driver directly modulates first time-varying electrical signal through the transformer.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising

a regulator connecting a DC power source to the high side of the power transistor wherein the regulator is controlled by the communication driver;

wherein the communication driver directly modulates first time-varying electrical signal through the transformer.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the communication driver indirectly modulates the first time-varying electrical signal amplitude by adjusting frequency of the output of the power driver to a subharmonic of the fundamental drive frequency.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the communication driver encodes the first time-varying signal with the data signal by modulating the frequency of the first time-varying electrical signal.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the communication driver encodes the first time-varying signal with the data signal by modulating the phase of the first time-varying electrical signal.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein

the power driver alternates the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

and

the communication driver encodes the first time-varying signal with the data signal by modulating the attribute of the first time-varying electrical signal during the power supply mode.

33. The system of claim 25, further comprising

the power driver alternates the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

and

the communication driver encodes the first time-varying signal with the data signal by modulating the attribute of the first time-varying electrical signal during the idle mode.

34. A method of communicating data in a transcutaneous energy transmission device, comprising transferring electrical power from an external primary to an implanted secondary by driving the external primary with a first time-varying electrical signal such that a second time-varying electrical signal is induced in the implanted secondary;

alternating the electrical power transfer between a power supply mode and an idle mode responsive to power consumption in the implanted secondary;

encoding the secondary time-varying signal with a data signal by modulating an attribute of the second time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary; and

receiving the data signal at the external primary by demodulating the first time-varying electrical signal as electrical power is transferred from the external primary to the implanted secondary;

wherein the operation of encoding the second time-varying signal with the second data signal by modulating an attribute of the second time-varying electrical signal occurs during the power supply mode.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein

the second time-varying electrical signal is modulated by a resistive loading of a circuit that includes a resonant tank associated with the secondary;

and

the first time-varying electrical signal is demodulated in the primary by sensing changes that occur in a primary current due to the resistive loading in the secondary.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein

the second time-varying electrical signal is modulated by a reactive loading of a circuit that includes a resonant tank associated with the secondary;

and

the first time-varying electrical signal is demodulated in the primary by sensing changes that occur in a primary current due to the reactive loading in the secondary.