Transcutaneous power and signal transmission system and methods for increased signal transmission efficiency

• US 5,070,535 A
• Filed: 01/30/1987
• Issued: 12/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Erwin S. Hochmair, Ingeborg J. Hochmair
• Original Assignee: Erwin S. Hochmair, Ingeborg J. Hochmair
• Inventors: Hochmair, Erwin S., Hochmair, Ingeborg J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KUNTZ, CURTIS A
• Application Number:
  US07/009,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 128/903, 128/419 PT, 128/420.6, 379/55, 381/68, 381/79
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/04 Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense, e.g. through the touch sense electronic stimulation of auditory nerves A61N1/36036
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A transcutaneous signal transmission system having coupling coil alignment tolerance and increased coupling efficiency includes an external transmitter and first tuned circuit including a first coupling coil and an implantable receiver and second tuned circuit including a second coupling coil. The first and second tuned circuits are stagger tuned whereby closer spacing of the coupling coils is permitted in achieving optimum coupling.

Claims

1. In a transcutaneous signal transmission system employing a transmitter coil and a magnetically coupled receiver coil, a method of effeciently transmitting signals while maintaining coil alignment tolerance comprising the steps of

providing external to a body a transmitter having a first tuned bandpass filter circuit including a first coupling coil, said first tuned circuit being tuned to a first frequency,

implanting in the body a receiver having a second tuned bandpass filter circuit including a second coupling coil, said second tuned circuit being tuned to a second frequency,

positioning said first coupling coil with respect to said second coupling coil in a position tolerance range to achieve optimum coupling, and

transmitting signals between said coupling coils at a third frequency, said third frequency being different from at least one of said first and second frequencies.

2. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said second frequency and said third frequency are the same.

3. A transcutaneous signal transmission system employing a transmitter coil and a magnetically coupled receiver coil for efficient signal transmission and reception while maintaining coil alignment tolerance comprising

an external transmitter having a first tuned bandpass filter circuit including a first coupling coil, said first tuned circuit being tuned to a first frequency, and

an implanted receiver having a second tuned bandpass filter circuit including a second coupling coil, said second tuned circuit being tuned to a second frequency,

said external transmitter transmitting signals at a third frequency, said third frequency differing from at least one of said first and second frequencies, said first coupling coil being positioned with respect to said second coupling coil to achieve optimum coupling.

4. The transcutaneous signal transmission system as defined by claim 3 wherein said second frequency and said third frequency are the same.