Apparatus and methods for charging an implanted medical device power source

• US 8,626,297 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Jaax, Kristen, Carbunaru, Rafael, Lui, Mun Pook, Whitehurst, Todd K., DiGiore, Andrew, Schleicher, Brett Daniel, Baldwin, Gregory, Moffitt, Michael A., Funderburk, Jeffery Van, Makous, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US12/233,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 607/33, 607/61
• US Class Current: 607/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for charging an implanted medical device.

Claims

1. A charging appliance, comprising:

a charger for charging a medical device implanted in a patient; and

a mounting apparatus comprising a shoulder drape and a counterweight for the charger, the shoulder drape having a first free end carrying at least one pocket configured to receive the charger and a second free end carrying the counterweight.

2. The charging appliance of claim 1, wherein the counterweight comprises an additional charger.

3. The charging appliance of claim 1, wherein the counterweight is removable from the mounting apparatus.

4. The charging appliance of claim 1, wherein the shoulder drape has a fixed curved shape.

5. The charging appliance of claim 1, wherein the shoulder drape includes a slip resistant surface.

6. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the first and second free ends are configured to be positioned at opposing sides of the patient'"'"'s body.

7. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the shoulder drape extends along a longitudinal axis, and is bi-symmetrical about a line that is transverse to the longitudinal axis.

8. A treatment system to be used with a patient, comprising:

an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that is implantable in the patient'"'"'s body;

a charger to charge the IPG, wherein the charger is positionable outside the patient'"'"'s body; and

a mounting apparatus comprising a shoulder drape and a counterweight for the charger, the shoulder drape having a first free end carrying at least one pocket configured to receive the charger and a second free end carrying the counterweight.

9. The treatment system of claim 8, further comprising a lead coupled to the IPG and configured to extend into a selected portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

10. The treatment system of claim 9, wherein the lead is configured to be implanted in the patient'"'"'s brain for deep brain stimulation.

11. The treatment system of claim 9, wherein the lead is configured to be implanted in the patient'"'"'s neck for headache treatment.

12. The treatment system of claim 8, wherein the charger is powered by a rechargeable battery contained in the charger.

13. The treatment system of claim 8, wherein the counterweight comprises an additional charger.

14. The treatment system of claim 8, wherein the counterweight is removable from the mounting apparatus.

15. The treatment system of claim 8, wherein the shoulder drape has a fixed curved shape.

16. The treatment system of claim 8, wherein the shoulder drape includes a slip resistant surface.

17. The treatment system of claim 8, wherein the first and second free ends are configured to be positioned at opposing sides of the patient'"'"'s body.

18. The treatment system of claim 8, wherein the shoulder drape extends along a longitudinal axis, and is bi-symmetrical about a line that is transverse to the longitudinal axis.