System and method for transcutaneous energy transfer achieving high efficiency

• US 7,286,880 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Phillips, William C., Olson, David P., Schmeling, Andrew L., Schommer, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Kristen Droesch
• Application Number:
  US10/836,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A system and method for transcutaneous energy transfer and/or charging in a transverse direction. An external power source having a primary coil being driven at a frequency selectable in the range between eight and twelve kiloHertz contained in a housing. An implantable medical device has componentry for providing a therapeutic output and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the componentry. The external power source is capable of providing energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. The external power source has a lateral positional adjustment for the primary coil. The frequency of the external power source is frequency adjustable providing a frequency adjustment. The positional adjustment and the frequency adjustment allows, at least in part, the system to attain an efficiency of energy transfer from the external power source to the implantable medical device of at least thirty percent.

Claims

1. A method of transcutaneous energy transfer in a transverse direction in a system having an external power source having a primary coil being driven at a frequency selectable in the range between eight and twelve kiloHertz contained in a housing;

and an implantable medical device having componentry for providing a therapeutic output and a secondary coil operatively coupled to said componentry, comprising the steps of;

positioning said external power source in proximity of said secondary coil of said implantable medical device;

laterally adjusting said primary coil with respect to said secondary coil; and

adjusting said frequency of said external power source;

said laterally adjusting and said frequency adjusting providing, at least in part, an efficiency of energy transfer from said external power source to said implantable medical device of at least thirty percent.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said efficiency is achieved while maintaining a positional tolerance of at least three centimeters in a lateral direction orthogonal to said transverse direction.

3. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of placing an energy shielding material between said secondary coil and said componentry.

4. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning an energy absorptive material within said external power source.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein said external power source has a thermally conductive surface nearest a cutaneous boundary between said external power source and said implantable medical device.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein said laterally adjusting step comprises moving a ferrite core within said primary coil of said external power source.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein said frequency adjusting step comprises adjusting said frequency to minimize impedance of a tuned inductive circuit created when said primary coil is placed in proximity of said secondary coil.

8. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

placing an energy shielding material between said secondary coil and said componentry; and

positioning an energy absorptive material within said external power source; and

wherein said external power source has a thermally conductive surface nearest a cutaneous boundary between said external power source and said implantable medical device;

wherein said laterally adjusting step comprises a moving a fenite core within said primary coil of said external power source; and

wherein said frequency adjusting step comprises adjusting said frequency to minimize impedance of a tuned inductive circuit created when said primary coil is placed in proximity of said secondary coil.

9. A system for transcutaneous energy transfer in a transverse direction, comprising:

an external power source having a primary coil being driven at a frequency selectable in the range between eight and twelve kiloHertz contained in a housing; and

an implantable medical device having componentry for providing a therapeutic output and a secondary coil operatively coupled to said componentry;

said external power source capable of providing energy to said implantable medical device when said primary coil of said external power source is placed in proximity of said secondary coil of said implantable medical device;

said external power source having a lateral positional adjustment with respect to said primary coil;

said frequency of said external power source being frequency adjustable providing a frequency adjustment;

said positional adjustment and said frequency adjustment providing, at least in part, an efficiency of energy transfer from said external power source to said implantable medical device of at least thirty percent.

10. A system as in claim 9 wherein said efficiency of energy transfer is achieved while maintaining a positional tolerance of at least three centimeters in a lateral direction orthogonal to said transverse direction.

11. A system as in claim 9 further comprising an energy shielding material positioned between said secondary coil and said componentry.

12. A system as in claim 9 further comprising an energy absorptive material positioned within said external power source.

13. A system as in claim 9 wherein said external power source has a thermally conductive surface nearest a cutaneous boundary between said external power source and said implantable medical device.

14. A system as in claim 9 wherein said lateral positional adjustment comprises a moveable ferrite core positioned within said primary coil of said external power source.

15. A system as in claim 9 wherein a tuned inductive circuit is created when said primary coil is placed in proximity of said secondary coil having an impedance and wherein said frequency is adjusted to minimize said impedance.

16. A system as in claim 9 further comprising:

an energy shielding material positioned between said secondary coil and said componentry; and

an energy absorptive material positioned within said external power source; and

wherein said external power source has a thermally conductive surface nearest a cutaneous boundary between said external power source and said implantable medical device;

wherein said lateral positional adjustment comprises a moveable ferrite core positioned within said primary coil of said external power source; and

wherein a tuned inductive circuit is created when said primary coil is placed in proximity of said secondary coil having an impedance and wherein said frequency is adjusted to minimize said impedance.

17. A system for charging, comprising:

an implantable medical device having componentry for providing a therapeutic output, comprising;

a rechargeable power source; and

a secondary coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source; and

an external charger, comprising;

a primary coil;

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary coil, driving said primary coil at a frequency selectable in the range between eight and twelve kiloHertz; and

said external charger being capable of providing energy to said implantable medical device when said primary coil is placed in proximity of said secondary coil of said implantable medical device;

said external charger having a lateral positional adjustment with respect to said primary coil;

said frequency of said external charger being frequency adjustable providing a frequency adjustment; and

said positional adjustment and said frequency adjustment providing, at least in part, an efficiency of energy transfer from said external charger to said implantable medical device of at least thirty percent.

18. A system as in claim 17 wherein said efficiency is achieved while maintaining a positional tolerance of at least three centimeters in a lateral direction orthogonal to said transverse direction.

19. A system as in claim 17 further comprising an energy shielding material positioned between said secondary coil and said componentry.

20. A system as in claim 17 further comprising an energy absorptive material positioned within said external charger.

21. A system as in claim 17 wherein said external charger has a thermally conductive surface nearest a cutaneous boundary between said external charger and said implantable medical device.

22. A system as in claim 17 wherein said lateral positional adjustment comprises a moveable ferrite core positioned within said primary coil of said external charger.

23. A system as in claim 17 wherein a tuned inductive circuit is created when said primary coil is placed in proximity of said secondary coil having an impedance and wherein said frequency is adjusted to minimize said impedance.

24. A system as in claim 17 further comprising:

an energy shielding material positioned between said secondary coil and said componentry; and

an energy absorptive material positioned within said external charger; and

wherein said external charger has a thermally conductive surface nearest a cutaneous boundary between said external charger and said implantable medical device;

wherein said lateral positional adjustment comprises a moveable ferrite core positioned within said primary coil of said external charger; and

wherein a tuned inductive circuit is created when said primary coil is placed in proximity of said secondary coil having an impedance and wherein said frequency is adjusted to minimize said impedance.