Implantable device with a charging current feed arrangement which has a receiving coil

• US 6,154,677 A
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Implex AG Hearing Technology
• Inventors: Leysieffer, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/311,565
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 607/61, 607/33, 607/29, 607/27, 607/9
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

Implantable device with a charging current feed arrangement (78) which has at least one receiving coil (106) into which energy can be fed electromagnetically via a charging device (59) located outside the body, an electrochemical battery (90) which can be repeatedly recharged via the charging current feed arrangement, and with a main module (56, 130) supplied with electric power by the battery. The components of the implantable device (54), with the exception of the receiving coil, are accommodated in a housing arrangement (72, 72'"'"', 72", 128, 132) of biocompatible metal. The receiving coil (106) is wound from at least one metallic conductor (109) that is jacketed with an electrically insulating material (11), is surrounded by a biocompatible polymer (104) and also is mechanically connected to at least part of the housing arrangement (72, 72'"'"', 72", 128, 132).

Claims

1. Implantable device with a charging current feed arrangement comprising:

at least one receiving coil into which, in an implanted state within a body, energy can be transcutaneously fed electromagnetically via a charging device located externally of the body;

a repeatedly rechargeable electrochemical battery; and

a main module connected to the battery to receive electric power therefrom, and having a housing arrangement made of a biocompatible metal;

wherein the receiving coil is located outside of the housing arrangement and being electrically coupled to the parts of the implantable device located within the housing arrangement;

wherein the receiving coil is wound from at least one metallic conductor that is jacketed with an electrically insulating material and is surrounded by a biocompatible polymer; and

wherein the receiving coil is mechanically connected to at least a part of the housing arrangement to form a unit therewith.

2. Implantable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic housing arrangement is made hermetically sealed.

3. Implantable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving coil is fixed on the outside of a metallic outer housing which holds at least the main module.

4. Implantable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving coil is fixed on the outside of a protective housing which holds at least the battery.

5. Implantable device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receiving coil is fixed on the protective housing via the polymer which surrounds it.

6. Implantable device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the receiving coil is fixed on the metal housing via the polymer which surrounds it.

7. Implantable device as claimed claim 5, wherein the receiving coil is located on at least a part of a broad side of the housing arrangement of the main module.

8. Implantable device as claimed claim 3, wherein the receiving coil is located on at least a part of a broad side of the metallic outer housing.

9. Implantable device as claimed claim 4, wherein the receiving coil is located on at least a part of a broad side of the protective housing of the battery module.

10. Implantable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coil axis of the receiving coil is at least roughly perpendicular to the broad side of the housing arrangement of the main module.

11. Implantable device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coil axis of the receiving coil is at least roughly perpendicular to the broad side of the of the metallic outer housing.

12. Implantable device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the coil axis of the receiving coil is at least roughly perpendicular to the broad side of the protective housing of the battery module.

13. Implantable device as claimed claim 5, wherein the receiving coil is located on at least a part of a narrow side of the housing arrangement of the main module.

14. Implantable device as claimed claim 3, wherein the receiving coil is located on at least a part of a narrow side of the metallic outer housing.

15. Implantable device as claimed claim 4, wherein the receiving coil is located on at least a part of a narrow side of the protective housing of the battery module.

16. Implantable device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the coil axis of the receiving coil is at least roughly parallel to the broad side of the housing arrangement of the main module.

17. Implantable device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the coil axis of the receiving coil is at least roughly parallel to the narrow side of the metallic outer housing.

18. Implantable device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the coil axis of the receiving coil is at least roughly parallel to the narrow side of the protective housing of the battery module.

19. Implantable device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the receiving coil is inclined at an angle in the range from 5°

to 25°

relative to the housing on which it is located.

20. Implantable device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the receiving coil is inclined at an angle in the range from 5°

to 25°

relative to the housing on which it is located.

21. Implantable device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the receiving coil is inclined at an angle in the range from 5°

to 25°

relative to the housing arrangement on which it is located.

22. Implantable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving coil is connected to the housing arrangement of the main module by a flexible connecting lead.

23. Implantable device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the flexible connecting lead between the receiving coil and the housing arrangement is comprised of a covering of biocompatible polymer.

24. Implantable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving coil has a conductor made of a biocompatible metal.

25. Implantable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor of the receiving coil is made from a metal which is chosen from the group consisting of gold, platinum, niobium, tantalum, iridium and their alloys.

26. Implantable device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the conductor of the receiving coil is made of pure gold.

27. Implantable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said biocompatible polymer is chosen from the group consisting of silicones, polyurethanes, polyimides, polymethane, parylene, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

28. Implantable device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said biocompatible polymer is chosen from the group consisting of silicones, polyurethanes, polyimides, polymethane, parylene, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

29. Implantable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving coil is a coreless coil.