RESONANT POWER TRANSFER SYSTEMS WITH COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20160254704A1
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Inventors: McEachern, Ian Coll, Hansen, John Freddy
• Granted Patent: US 10,615,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• 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 60/178 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 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/538 Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/585 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises a transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, a receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, a medical device configured to receive power from the receive resonator, a controller configured to change an operating parameter of the medical device resulting in a change to a sonic signature of the medical device, and a listening device configured to determine an intended communication from the implanted medical device or the implanted receive resonator based on the change to the sonic signature coming from the implanted medical device.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:

a transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power;

a receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator;

a medical device configured to receive power from the receive resonator;

a controller configured to change an operating parameter of the medical device resulting in a change to a sonic signature of the medical device; and

a listening device configured to determine an intended communication from the implanted medical device or the implanted receive resonator based on the change to the sonic signature coming from the implanted medical device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the listening device further comprises a display configured to display information relating to the intended communication.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the listening device is wearable.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the listening device is affixed to a wrist strap.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the listening device is affixed to a belt.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the intended communication comprises an operating parameter of the medical device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the intended communication comprises a status update of the medical device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the intended communication comprises an alert of the medical device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a left ventricular assist device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the change to the sonic signature comprises a changed speed of a pump of the left ventricular assist device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the change to the sonic signature comprises a harmonic introduced into a drive signal of the medical device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the listening device includes a microphone.

13. A method of transmitting wireless power and communications, comprising:

transmitting wireless power from an external transmit resonator to an implanted receive resonator;

receiving wireless power with the implanted receive resonator;

powering an implanted medical device with the received power;

changing an operating parameter of the medical device;

listening for a change in a sonic signature of the medical device in response to the changed operating parameter; and

determining an intended communication from the receive resonator or the medical device based on the change in the sonic signature of the medical device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying the intended communication to a user.