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External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device Having Alignment and Centering Capabilities

  • US 20170361114A1
  • Filed: 06/07/2017
  • Published: 12/21/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An external charger for wirelessly providing energy to an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

  • a charging coil configured when energized by a drive signal to produce a magnetic field to wirelessly provide energy to the IMD as a coupled system;

    at least one sense coil, wherein each at least one sense coil is configured to be induced by the magnetic field with an induced signal affected by a position of the charging coil with respect to the IMD; and

    control circuitry configured to determine from at least one parameter determinable using each induced signal one of a plurality of positions of the charging coil with respect to the IMD, wherein the positions comprise whether the charging coil is (i) centered, (ii) not centered but not misaligned, and (iii) misaligned, with respect to the IMD.

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