Efficient external charger for charging a plurality of implantable medical devices
First Claim
1. A method for charging batteries in a plurality of implantable medical devices, comprising:
- (a) generating a charging field during a charging session using an external charger to simultaneously charge the batteries in the implantable medical devices;
(b) monitoring at the external charger parameters indicative of a coupling between the external charger and each of the implantable medical devices during the charging session; and
(c) adjusting during the charging session an intensity of the charging field in accordance with a first of the parameters indicative of the coupling between the external charger and a first of the implantable medical devices, and a duty cycle of the charging field in accordance with a second of the parameters indicative of the coupling between the external charger and a second of the implantable medical devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device (implant), and technique for charging batteries in multiple implants using such improved external charger, is disclosed. During charging, values for a parameter measured in the implants are reported from the implants to the external charger. The external charger infers from the magnitudes of the parameters which of the implants has the highest and lowest coupling to the external charger, and so designates those implants as “hot” and “cold.” The intensity of the magnetic charging field is optimized for the cold implant consistent with the simulation to ensure that that the cold implant is charged with a maximum (fastest) battery charging current. The duty cycle of the magnetic charging field is also optimized for the hot implant consistent with the simulation to ensure that the hot implant does not exceed the power dissipation limit. As a result, charging is optimized to be fast for all of the implants, while still safe from a tissue heating perspective.
30 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for charging batteries in a plurality of implantable medical devices, comprising:
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(a) generating a charging field during a charging session using an external charger to simultaneously charge the batteries in the implantable medical devices; (b) monitoring at the external charger parameters indicative of a coupling between the external charger and each of the implantable medical devices during the charging session; and (c) adjusting during the charging session an intensity of the charging field in accordance with a first of the parameters indicative of the coupling between the external charger and a first of the implantable medical devices, and a duty cycle of the charging field in accordance with a second of the parameters indicative of the coupling between the external charger and a second of the implantable medical devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification