Charger for implant

• US 9,089,717 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kirk Promotion Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kirk Promotion Ltd.
• Inventors: Forsell, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US13/123,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 34053911- 13, 3405721- 8, 340/10.1, 607/33, 607/66, 607/29, 607/32, 607/41, 607/46, 607/115, 607/61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00411 actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2046 Tracking techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0031 for constricting the lumen; Support slings for the urethra
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8287 operated by an external magnetic or electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 : specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 : Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 : Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 : characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 : involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 : involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 : with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 : Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 : for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A system for supplying energy to an implantable medical device when implanted in a patient'"'"'s body can comprise an internal charger arranged to be implanted in the patient'"'"'s body, the internal charger comprising a first coil. The system can further comprise an external charger arranged to wirelessly transmit energy to supply power to the internal charger, using a second coil. The system also comprises a wireless feedback system arranged to transmit feedback information from the internal charger to the external charger. The feedback information is based on information from at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transmitter. Hereby a user of the system can optimize the position of the external power supply in relation to the internal power supply based on the received feedback information. This in turn will result in a better and more robust energy transfer to the implanted medical device.

Claims

1. A system for supplying energy to an implanted medical device for implantation in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising an internal charger arranged to be implanted in the patient'"'"'s body, the internal charger comprising a first coil,

an external charger arranged to wirelessly transmit energy with an electromagnetic field to supply the internal charger with energy, the external charger comprising a second coil, and

a wireless passive feedback system adapted to be powered by a wireless signal transmitted by the external charger and arranged to transmit feedback information from the internal charger to the external charger, wherein the feedback information is based on information obtained from at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitter,

wherein an RFID signature is set in response to a magnitude of the electromagnetic field received as actively measured by a measurement unit in the internal charger, measuring an electric parameter, wherein the measuring unit of the internal charger provides to the at least one RFID transmitter a determined value related to the magnitude of the received electromagnetic field and the at least one RFID transmitter is adapted to set and change its identification according to the determined value related to the magnitude of the received electromagnetic field and to be passively powered by the wireless energy, transmit the changed identification as feedback, and wherein

the external charger is arranged to regulate the wirelessly transmitted energy based on a relation between;

the feedback information being related to an amount of energy received in the first coil, and an amount of wirelessly transmitted energy by the second coil.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the feedback information is related to the strength of an electromagnetic field generated by the external charger.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless feedback system comprises a plurality of the at least one RFID transmitters and/or RFID receivers.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a unit for evaluating identification signals received from the at least one RFID transmitters, the unit using a triangulation algorithm for determining the position of the external charger or of the internal charger, respectively, in relation to the RFID transmitters.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for evaluating identification signals received from the at least one RFID transmitter, the unit arranged to measure the time period between the time when an interrogating signal is issued and the time when an identification is received from the at least one RFID transmitter, the measured time period representing or being directly related to the geometrical distance between an interrogating transceiver and the at least one RFID transmitter.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the external charger further comprises an indicator arranged to indicate an improved or worsened relative position of the external charger or the internal charger, respectively, and the at least one RFID transmitter or a positive or negative change of the distance between the external charger or the internal charger, respectively, and the at least one RFID transmitter.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the external charger further comprises an indicator arranged to indicate an optimal or closest possible placement of the second coil in relation to the first coil.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the external charger further comprises a unit arranged to generate a signal indicative of the current relative position of the external charger or the internal charger, respectively, and the at least one RFID transmitter or the current distance between the external charger or the internal charger, respectively, and the at least one RFID transmitter.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the external charger comprises a display arranged to display the feedback information or information derived therefrom.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the display comprises a plurality of differently colored light sources.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the external charger comprises a unit producing audible sound representing the feedback information or information derived therefrom.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID transmitter comprises an active RFID tag comprising its own power supply and a memory with the capability of storing additional information, and/or the system comprises a passive RFID device, wherein an optimal position of the external charger in relation to the internal charger can be found, also when the implanted device has totally been emptied of energy and the position of the implanted device and in particular of the internal charger is not known.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an implantable internal energy receiver being connected to the implanted energy consuming components of the device for directly or indirectly supplying received energy thereto, wherein

an energy balance is determined between the energy received by the internal energy receiver and the energy used for the device and the wireless transmission of energy from the external energy charger is then controlled based on the determined energy balance.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein when controlling the energy transmission, the amount of wirelessly transmitted energy may be decreased if the detected energy balance change implies that the energy balance is increasing, or vice versa, wherein the decrease/increase of energy transmission corresponds to at least one of;

a detected change rate, and

a magnitude of the detected energy difference.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the energy used for the medical device is at least one of;

consumed to operate the medical device, and stored in at least one comprised energy storage device of the medical device, wherein the energy is transmitted for at least one of consumption and storage according to at least one of;

a transmission rate per time unit, which is determined based on at least one determined parameter, and

a total amount of transmitted energy, which is determined based on at least one determined parameter.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system is adapted to determine any electrical and/or physical parameters of the medical device and/or physical parameters of the patient, in which the system is adapted to at least one of;

detect the difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy, wherein the detected difference is related to the integral over time of at least one measured electrical parameter related to said energy balance, wherein the system is adapted to determine the integral for a monitored voltage and/or current related to the energy balance, and

determine a derivative over time of at least one measured electrical parameter related to the rate of consumed and/or stored energy, wherein the system is adapted to determine the derivative for a monitored voltage and/or electric current related to the energy balance.

24. A method of using the system according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

creating an opening in the skin of the patient,

dissecting an area of the patient,

placing an internal power supply comprising the internal charger within said area,

charging said internal power supply postoperatively and non-invasively by wirelessly transmitting energy from an external power supply, wherein the system further is adapted to postoperatively receive wireless feedback information from the internal power supply transmitted out of the patient'"'"'s body as a signal containing the RFID identification.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of creating an opening in the skin comprises:

inserting a tube or needle into the patient'"'"'s body,

filling the body through the tube or needle with a gas and thereby expanding a cavity within the patient'"'"'s body,

inserting at least two laparoscopic trocars into said cavity,

inserting at least one camera through at least one laparoscopic trocar,

inserting at least one dissecting tool through at least one laparoscopic trocar.

17. A method of supplying, to an implantable medical device, when the medical device is implanted in a patient'"'"'s body, the medical device comprising an internal power supply comprising a first coil arranged to be implanted in the patient'"'"'s body and is configured to receive energy from an external power supply comprising a second coil, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting energy by the external power supply via the second coil as an electromagnetic field to supply power to the internal power supply, and

receiving, the external power supply via the first coil feedback information can be passively transmitted from the internal power supply, wherein the feedback information is based on information from at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitter,

wherein an RFID signature is set in response to a magnitude of the electromagnetic field received as actively measured by a measurement unit in the internal power supply, measuring an electric parameter, wherein the measuring unit of the internal power supply provides to the at least one RFID transmitter a determined value related to the magnitude of the received electromagnetic field and the at least one RFID transmitter is adapted to set and change its identification accordingly and to passively transmit the changed identification as feedback information,

detecting a relation between the feedback information being related to an amount of energy received in the first coil, and an amount of wirelessly transmitted energy by the second coil, and

regulating by the external power supply the wirelessly transmitted energy based on the relation.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the feedback information is related to the strength of an electromagnetic field generated by the external power supply.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the identification of the at least one RFID transmitter is set in response to the strength of the electromagnetic field at the at least one RFID transmitter.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the wirelessly transmitted feedback information is transmitted and/or received using a plurality of the at least one RFID transmitters and/or a plurality of RFID receivers or interrogators.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of determining the position of the internal power supply based on measurements of the signals issued from the at least one RFID transmitter or transmitters and then using a triangulation algorithm.

22. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of displaying the feedback information or information derived therefrom.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the feedback information or other information is displayed using at least one of;

a plurality of different colors, and light from differently colored light sources.