Physically-Configurable External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device with Separable Coil and Electronics Housings
First Claim
1. An external charger for an implantable medical device, comprising:
- an electronics housing comprising control circuitry and a battery;
a coil housing comprising a charging coil; and
a cable coupled at a first end to the charging coil in the coil housing and connected at a second end to control circuitry in the electronics housing,wherein the control circuitry is configured to energize the charging coil via the cable to produce a magnetic field to provide power to the implantable medical device, andwherein the electronics housing and coil housing are configured to be connectable to establish a first configuration for the external charger, and configured to be separable to establish a second configuration for the external charger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A physically-configurable external charger device for an implantable medical device is disclosed, which facilitates the generation of different powers of a magnetic field but with reduced heating concerns at higher powers. The charger includes an electronics housing having control circuitry and a battery, and a coil housing having a charging coil. A cable connects these two housings. The two housings can be connected in a first physical configuration, and separated in a second physical configuration. In the first physical configuration, a low-power magnetic field can be produced, as the electronics housing is connected to the coil housing, and thus may heat to some degree. In a second physical configuration, the electronics housing is removed and extended from the coil housing, and thus a higher-power magnetic field can be produced with reduced heating concerns. Thus, in this second configuration, the charging rate of the IMD can be increased.
28 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An external charger for an implantable medical device, comprising:
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an electronics housing comprising control circuitry and a battery; a coil housing comprising a charging coil; and a cable coupled at a first end to the charging coil in the coil housing and connected at a second end to control circuitry in the electronics housing, wherein the control circuitry is configured to energize the charging coil via the cable to produce a magnetic field to provide power to the implantable medical device, and wherein the electronics housing and coil housing are configured to be connectable to establish a first configuration for the external charger, and configured to be separable to establish a second configuration for the external charger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for providing power to an implantable medical device using an external charging device, comprising:
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using an electronics housing of the external charging device to energize a charging coil within a coil housing of the external charging device to produce a magnetic field of a first power while the electronics housing is connected to the coil housing; and using the electronics housing to energize the charging coil to produce a magnetic field of a second power while the electronics housing is separated from the coil housing.
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Specification