Inductively rechargeable external energy source, charger, system and method for a transcutaneous inductive charger for an implantable medical device

• US 8,725,262 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, David P., Phillips, William C., Schmeling, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US13/210,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20110301667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 607 32- 33, 607 60- 61
• US Class Current: 607/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3655 controlled by body or blood temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature

Abstract

A mechanism for transferring energy from an external power source to an implantable medical device is disclosed. A sensor may be used to measure a parameter that correlates to a temperature of the system that occurs during the transcutaneous coupling of energy. For example, the sensor may measure temperature of a surface of an antenna of the external power source. The measured parameter may then be compared to a programmable limit. A control circuit such as may be provided by the external power source may then control the temperature based on the comparison. The programmable limit may be, for example, under software control so that the temperature occurring during transcutaneous coupling of energy may be modified to fit then-current circumstances.

Claims

1. An external device for providing energy to an implantable medical device, comprising:

a coil configured to transcutaneously convey the energy to the implantable medical device;

a sensor configured to measure a parameter correlated to a temperature generated by the external device during the transcutaneous conveyance of the energy to the implantable medical device;

a memory configured to store a programmable limit; and

a control circuit configured to control the temperature based on the measured parameter and the programmable limit, and

wherein the control circuit is configured to modify the programmable limit.

2. The external device of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter is the temperature.

3. The external device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor located in proximity to the coil.

4. The external device of claim 3, further comprising a thermally conductive material located in proximity to the temperature sensor.

5. The external device of claim 1, further comprising an antenna housing the coil, and wherein the sensor is thermally-coupled to a surface of the antenna and is configured to provide an indication of a temperature of the surface of the antenna.

6. The external device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a processor.

7. The external device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is adapted to control the temperature by adjusting a charge rate of the implantable medical device.

8. The external device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is adapted to control the temperature by limiting the current driving the coil.

9. The external device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is adapted to control the temperature by alternatively terminating and initiating the transcutaneous conveying of the energy to the implantable medical device.

10. The external device of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic core configured to focus energy provided from the coil to the implantable medical device.

11. The external device of claim 1, further comprising a source of electrical power for providing the energy to the coil.

12. The external device of claim 1, wherein the housing is portable to allow a patient in which the implantable medical device is implanted to be ambulatory while energy is being provided to the implantable medical device.

13. The external device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature based on the programmable limit being selected to be a temperature of not more than forty-one degrees Centigrade.

14. The external device of claim 1, further including means for modifying the programmable limit to fit then-current circumstances.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing containing one or more of the coil, sensor, memory and control circuit.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to compare the measured parameter to the programmable limit and to control the conveyance of energy to the implantable medical device based on the comparison.

17. A system comprising the device of claim 1 and the implantable medical device.

18. A method of providing energy to an implantable medical device, comprising:

transcutaneously conveying, via a coil of an external device, energy to the implantable medical device;

measuring, via a sensor of the external device, a parameter correlated to a temperature generated during the transcutaneous conveyance of the energy to the implantable medical device;

storing, via a memory of the external device, a programmable limit;

controlling, via a control circuit of the external device, the temperature based on the measured parameter and the programmable limit; and

modifying, via the control circuit, the programmable limit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein measuring, via a sensor, a parameter correlated to a temperature comprises measuring the temperature.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein measuring, via a sensor, a parameter correlated to a temperature comprises providing an indication of a temperature of the surface of an antenna that comprises the coil.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling, via a control circuit, the temperature comprises adjusting a charge rate of the implantable medical device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling, via a control circuit, the temperature comprises limiting the current driving the coil.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling, via a control circuit, the temperature comprises alternatively terminating and initiating the transcutaneous conveyance of the energy to the implantable medical device.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein conveying, via a coil, energy to the implantable medical device further comprises focusing energy provided from the coil to the implantable medical device.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling, via a control circuit, the temperature comprises controlling the temperature to be not more than forty-one degrees Centigrade.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising modifying the programmable limit to fit then-current circumstances.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising comparing the measured parameter to the programmable limit and controlling, via the control circuit, the conveyance of energy to the implantable medical device based on the comparison.