Transcutaneous energy transfer device with magnetic field protected components in secondary coil
First Claim
1. A transcutaneous energy transfer device comprising:
- an external primary coil adapted to receive an alternating drive signal for generating a magnetic field;
an implantable secondary coil having mounted therein electronic components electrically coupled to the secondary coil, the secondary coil for inducing a current when the secondary coil is inductively coupled to the primary coil, the induced current in the secondary coil generating a magnetic field, the magnetic field of the primary and secondary coils including a magnetic flux pathway between the primary and secondary coils; and
a cage mounted within the secondary coil and formed of a magnetically permeable material enclosing the electronic components to reduce inductive heating of the electronic components caused by the magnetic field of the primary and secondary coils;
wherein the cage includes a base having at least one flange integral with the base and extending the magnetically permeable material from the base into the flux pathway.
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Abstract
The invention provides a transcutaneous energy transfer device having an external primary coil and an implanted secondary coil inductively coupled to the primary coil, electronic components subcutaneously mounted within the secondary coil and a mechanism which reduces inductive heating of such components by the magnetic field of the secondary coil. For one embodiment of the invention, the mechanism for reducing inductive heating includes a cage formed of a high magnetic permeability material in which the electronic components are mounted, which cage guides the flux around the components to prevent heating thereof. For an alternative embodiment of the invention, a secondary coil has an outer winding and either a counter-wound inner winding or an inner winding in the magnetic field of the outer winding. For either arrangement of the inner coil, the inner coil generates a magnetic field substantially canceling the magnetic field of the outer coil in the area in which the electronic components are mounted.
82 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A transcutaneous energy transfer device comprising:
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an external primary coil adapted to receive an alternating drive signal for generating a magnetic field;
an implantable secondary coil having mounted therein electronic components electrically coupled to the secondary coil, the secondary coil for inducing a current when the secondary coil is inductively coupled to the primary coil, the induced current in the secondary coil generating a magnetic field, the magnetic field of the primary and secondary coils including a magnetic flux pathway between the primary and secondary coils; and
a cage mounted within the secondary coil and formed of a magnetically permeable material enclosing the electronic components to reduce inductive heating of the electronic components caused by the magnetic field of the primary and secondary coils;
wherein the cage includes a base having at least one flange integral with the base and extending the magnetically permeable material from the base into the flux pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification