Techniques for controlling charging of batteries in an external charger and an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. An external charger for interfacing with an implantable medical device, comprising:
- a battery charging circuit for controlling the charging of an external battery in the external charger;
a transmitter for controlling a wireless transmission to the implantable medical device, wherein the wireless transmission provides power to charge an implant battery in the implantable medical device;
control circuitry for implementing an algorithm to controllably enable the battery charging circuit and the transmitter in the event that the control circuitry determines that both the external battery and the implant battery require charging.
1 Assignment
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are charging algorithms implementable in an external charger for controlling the charging of both an external battery in the external charger and an implant battery in an implantable medical device. Because full-powered simultaneous charging of both batteries can generate excessive heat in the external charger, the various charging algorithms are designed to ensure that both batteries are ultimately charged, but in a manner considerate of heat generation. In some embodiments, the charging algorithms prevent simultaneous charging of both batteries by arbitrating which battery is given charging precedence at a given point in time. In other embodiments, the charging algorithms allow for simultaneous charging of both batteries, but with at least one of the batteries being only weakly charged at low power levels. In other embodiments, the temperature generated in the external charger is monitored and used to control the charging algorithm.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An external charger for interfacing with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a battery charging circuit for controlling the charging of an external battery in the external charger; a transmitter for controlling a wireless transmission to the implantable medical device, wherein the wireless transmission provides power to charge an implant battery in the implantable medical device; control circuitry for implementing an algorithm to controllably enable the battery charging circuit and the transmitter in the event that the control circuitry determines that both the external battery and the implant battery require charging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An external charger for interfacing with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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an external battery in the external charger for producing a battery voltage; a circuit node configured to receive a DC voltage produced from an AC power source, wherein the DC voltage is usable to charge the external battery; and a transmitter for providing power wirelessly to charge an implant battery in an implantable medical device, the transmitter comprising a resonant circuit powered by a power supply voltage, wherein the power supply voltage is selectable between the battery voltage and the DC voltage. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An external charger for interfacing with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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an external battery in the external charger for producing a battery voltage; a battery charging circuit for controlling the charging of the external battery; a circuit node configured to receive a DC voltage, wherein the DC voltage is provided to the battery charging circuit to allow the external battery to be charged; a coil to provide power wirelessly to charge an implant battery in an implantable medical device; a transmitter for driving the coil; control circuitry programmed to control the battery charging circuit and the transmitter in the event that the control circuitry determines that both the external battery and the implant battery requires charging. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification