Transcutaneous energy transfer device
First Claim
1. In a TET device having a primary coil and a primary coil driver for operation outside a living organism, and a secondary coil for implanting within the living organism, a system for tuning the TET device comprising:
- a) means for measuring characteristics of the secondary coil relating to power coupling during operation and for transmitting an indication of the characteristics from within the organism to outside the organism;
b) means for receiving the transmitted indication of the characteristic and for providing a signal related to said indication; and
,c) a voltage control circuit for receiving the signal related to said indication and for controlling voltage and current in the primary coil in dependence upon the received signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In the design of transcutaneous energy transfer devices variation in spacing between the coils results in energy transfer efficiency changes. These changes may have other causes. It is proposed to use an autotuning circuit and a voltage control circuit in cooperation with feedback from the internal coil in order to better maintain energy transfer levels as desirable. The feedback is typically provided via IR communication; however, when skin is highly pigmented, IR communication is inefficient. A method and system for using RF signals to accomplish the communication is disclosed.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. In a TET device having a primary coil and a primary coil driver for operation outside a living organism, and a secondary coil for implanting within the living organism, a system for tuning the TET device comprising:
-
a) means for measuring characteristics of the secondary coil relating to power coupling during operation and for transmitting an indication of the characteristics from within the organism to outside the organism; b) means for receiving the transmitted indication of the characteristic and for providing a signal related to said indication; and
,c) a voltage control circuit for receiving the signal related to said indication and for controlling voltage and current in the primary coil in dependence upon the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18)
-
-
12. A method of controlling and tuning power coupling in a TET device comprising the steps of
measuring at least a characteristic of a secondary coil during operation and transmitting an indication of the at least a characteristic; receiving the transmitted indication of the at least a characteristic and, in dependence upon previous variations, varying at least a characteristic of a signal provided to a primary coil in dependence upon the received indication. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
16. An RF telemetry transmitter for use in a TET system comprising
a) a primary RF transceiver coupled to a primary coil and for superimposing an RF signal onto a power signal; -
b) primary signal filtering and extraction means for extracting information from an RF signal received by the primary RF transceiver; c) a secondary RF transceiver coupled to a secondary coil; d) secondary signal filtering and extraction means for extracting information from an RF signal received by the secondary RF transceiver; and
,e) a power receiving circuit coupled to one of the second coil, the secondary RF receiver, and the secondary signal filtering means. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification