Charging system for an implantable medical device employing magnetic and electric fields
First Claim
1. An external device for charging a battery in an implantable medical device, comprising:
- at least one first antenna selectively enabled to generate an electric field for charging the battery in the implantable medical device;
at least one second antenna selectively enabled to generate a magnetic field for charging the battery in the implantable medical device; and
control circuitry within the external device, wherein the control circuitry is configured to enable the second antenna to produce the magnetic field and to receive data from the implantable medical device indicating that the implantable medical device is using the magnetic field to charge the battery,wherein if the data is received, the control circuitry is configured to continue enabling the second antenna to produce the magnetic field, andwherein if the data is not received, the control circuitry is configured to disable the second antenna and enable the first antenna to produce the electric field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A base station for passively recharging a battery in an implant without patient involvement is disclosed. The base station can be hand held or may comprise equipment configured to be placed at a fixed location, such as under a bed, on or next to a wall, etc. The base station can generate electric and magnetic fields (E-field and B-field) that couple with an antenna and a receiving coil within the implant to generate a charging current for charging the implant'"'"'s battery. No handling or manipulation on part of the patient is necessary; the implant battery is passively charged whenever the patient is within range of either the magnetic or electric charging fields generated by base station. Charging using the B-field occurs when the IPG is at a relatively short distance from the base station, while charging using the E-field occurs at longer distances. Back telemetry from the implant can inform the base station whether B-field or E-field charging is indicated, and is preferred if possible for its ability to transfer higher amounts of power to the implant.
39 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An external device for charging a battery in an implantable medical device, comprising:
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at least one first antenna selectively enabled to generate an electric field for charging the battery in the implantable medical device; at least one second antenna selectively enabled to generate a magnetic field for charging the battery in the implantable medical device; and control circuitry within the external device, wherein the control circuitry is configured to enable the second antenna to produce the magnetic field and to receive data from the implantable medical device indicating that the implantable medical device is using the magnetic field to charge the battery, wherein if the data is received, the control circuitry is configured to continue enabling the second antenna to produce the magnetic field, and wherein if the data is not received, the control circuitry is configured to disable the second antenna and enable the first antenna to produce the electric field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification