Multimode recharging system for living tissue stimulators
First Claim
1. A rechargeable tissue stimulation system adapted to be in part implanted in the body of a patient for applying electrical stimulation pulses to selected body tissue comprising:
- implanted pulse circuit means for generating and applying said stimulation pulses;
implanted rechargeable battery means operably connected to supply operating energy to said pulse circuit means;
implanted means including at least first sensing means coupled to said battery means for sensing the state-of-charge of said battery means and for transmitting a first signal when the state-of-charge of said battery means reaches a first level;
external means including an external source for providing recharging energy; and
implanted recharge means responsive to recharging energy provided by said external source for recharging said battery means, means for generating and transmitting a signal indicative of the rate said recharge means recharge said battery means, said external means including receiver means for receiving said first signal and the signal indicative of the rate said battery means is recharged, and external circuit means responsive to the signals received by said receiver means for controlling the energy supplied by said source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for controlling the charging of a rechargeable battery in an implanted human tissue stimulator by means of an external power source. Included in the stimulator are battery protection devices designed to sense the state of charge of the battery and limit the charging currrent amplitude so as not to exceed a selected maximum based on different criteria including battery state of charge signals from the implanted stimulator which are indicative of the current amplitude and battery state of charge from one of the protection devices are transmited to an external unit. Based on these signals the external unit is operated in one of a plurality of modes to cause the battery to be charged by a current with an optimum safe amplitude irrespective of determined failure of one or more of the battery protection devices.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A rechargeable tissue stimulation system adapted to be in part implanted in the body of a patient for applying electrical stimulation pulses to selected body tissue comprising:
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implanted pulse circuit means for generating and applying said stimulation pulses; implanted rechargeable battery means operably connected to supply operating energy to said pulse circuit means; implanted means including at least first sensing means coupled to said battery means for sensing the state-of-charge of said battery means and for transmitting a first signal when the state-of-charge of said battery means reaches a first level; external means including an external source for providing recharging energy; and implanted recharge means responsive to recharging energy provided by said external source for recharging said battery means, means for generating and transmitting a signal indicative of the rate said recharge means recharge said battery means, said external means including receiver means for receiving said first signal and the signal indicative of the rate said battery means is recharged, and external circuit means responsive to the signals received by said receiver means for controlling the energy supplied by said source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A rechargeable system adapted to be in part implanted in a patient, comprising:
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implanted circuit means for performing a selected function in the patient'"'"'s body; an implanted rechargeable battery for powering said circuit means; external means including an external power source for providing recharging energy; implanted recharge means responsive to energy from said external power source for providing a recharging current to said battery; first charge sensing means for providing a first signal when the state-of-charge of said battery is not less than a first charge level; current sensing means for providing a signal indicative of the current amplitude which is supplied by said recharge means to said battery; and recharge control means coupled to said recharge means to said first charge sensing means and to said current sensing means for controlling the recharging current which can be supplied to said battery from said recharge means, said recharge control means include means for limiting the current not to exceed a selected low level, once the current sensing means provide said signal, definable as the current-amplitude-indicating signal, which indicates that the recharge current is not less than a first level, and said sensing means provide said first signal as long as the recharge means receive energy from said external power source which is above a selected low energy level. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification