External charger for an implantable medical device having at least one moveable charging coil
First Claim
1. An external charger for charging at least one implantable medical device using a magnetic charging field, comprising:
- a housing; and
at least one charging coil within the housing, andcontrol circuitry configured to move the at least one charging coil,wherein the control circuitry is configured to move the at least one charging coil to a position within the housing in accordance with at least one measured parameter, wherein each measured parameter is indicative of the coupling between the external charger and one of the one or more implantable medical devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved external chargers for charging an implantable medical device, and particularly useful in charging a plurality of such devices, are disclosed. Each of the various embodiments include design elements for mechanically manipulating the position of one or more charging coils within the external charger to customize the magnetic charging field as appropriate for the charger/implantable device environment. For example, a single charging coil may be moved within a housing of the external charger to direct the charging field of the coil towards the currently “coldest” implant, i.e., the implant with the lowest coupling to the external charger. The one or more charging coils may be mechanically manipulated within the external charger housing in a number of ways, including by using linear actuators, by inflatable bladders, or even by hand.
32 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An external charger for charging at least one implantable medical device using a magnetic charging field, comprising:
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a housing; and at least one charging coil within the housing, and control circuitry configured to move the at least one charging coil, wherein the control circuitry is configured to move the at least one charging coil to a position within the housing in accordance with at least one measured parameter, wherein each measured parameter is indicative of the coupling between the external charger and one of the one or more implantable medical devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for optimizing charging of one or more implantable medical device using an external charger, the method comprising:
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automatically measuring at least one parameter, wherein each measured parameter is indicative of the coupling between the external charger and one of the one or more implantable medical devices; and automatically moving at least one charging coil in the external charger to a position determined by a control circuit in accordance with the at least one measured parameter. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification