Method of minimizing interruptions to implantable medical device recharging
First Claim
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1. A method for charging a rechargeable battery in a medical device using an external charger, said method comprising the steps of:
- wirelessly transmitting a power signal from the external charger to the medical device, said power signal including power for charging the rechargeable battery;
in the medical device, measuring a value of a first variable relating to the power signal received by the medical device from the external charger;
transmitting the value of the first variable from the medical device to the external charger concurrent with wirelessly receiving the power signal;
in the external charger, measuring a value of a second variable relating to the power signal transmitted by the external charger to the medical device; and
adjusting the power signal transmitted from the external charger to the medical device at least partly based on values of both said first variable and said second variable.
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Abstract
A system and method of controlling the charging of the battery of a medical device using a remote inductive charger, with the method utilizing both a relatively fast closed-loop charging control based on a proxy for a target power transmission value in conjunction, and a slower closed-loop control based on an actual measured transmission value to control a charging power level for charging the medical device.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for charging a rechargeable battery in a medical device using an external charger, said method comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly transmitting a power signal from the external charger to the medical device, said power signal including power for charging the rechargeable battery; in the medical device, measuring a value of a first variable relating to the power signal received by the medical device from the external charger; transmitting the value of the first variable from the medical device to the external charger concurrent with wirelessly receiving the power signal; in the external charger, measuring a value of a second variable relating to the power signal transmitted by the external charger to the medical device; and adjusting the power signal transmitted from the external charger to the medical device at least partly based on values of both said first variable and said second variable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for charging a rechargeable battery in an implantable medical device using an external charger, said method comprising the steps of:
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inductively transmitting power from a primary coil of the external charger to a secondary coil of the medical device; in the medical device, measuring a value of a rectified voltage of the secondary coil obtained from the power received from the external charger; periodically transmitting the value of the rectified voltage or a derivation thereof from the medical device to the external charger; in the external charger, determining a value of the power transmitted by the external charger to the medical device; and in the external charger, adjusting the power transmitted from the external charger to the medical device at least partly based on the determined value of the power transmitted by the external charger to the medical device, wherein when the value of the rectified voltage or derivation thereof is received by the external charger, the step of adjusting the power transmitted from the external charger to the medical device is based on the value of the rectified voltage or derivation thereof as compared to a desired value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for charging a rechargeable battery in an implantable medical device using an external charger, said method comprising the steps of:
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inductively transmitting power from a primary coil of the external charger to a secondary coil of the medical device; in the medical device, measuring a first variable representing the power received from the external charger; periodically transmitting the value of the first variable from the medical device to the external charger; in the external charger, determining a value of a second variable representing the power transmitted by the external charger to the medical device; in the external charger, adjusting the power transmitted from the external charger to the medical device at least partly based on the determined value of the second variable; and in the external charger, statistically analyzing a plurality of the values of the first variable received from the medical device, wherein when the value of the first variable is received by the external charger, adapting the step of adjusting the power transmitted from the external charger to the medical device based on the value of the rectified voltage as compared to a desired value of the rectified voltage that is determined at least partly based on a result of the statistically analyzing step. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing a neurostimulation therapy to a patient, comprising the steps of:
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providing an implantable medical device having a rechargeable battery and being implanted in a patient; using said implantable medical device for driving at least one electrode implanted in the patient to stimulate at least one nerve of the patient; and recharging said battery using an external charger, said recharging including the steps of; wirelessly transmitting power from the external charger to the medical device; in the medical device, measuring a value of a first variable relating to the power received by the medical device from the external charger; in the external charger, measuring a value of a second variable relating to the power transmitted by the external charger to the medical device; and adjusting the power transmitted from the external charger to the medical device at least partly based on values of both said first variable and said second variable.
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22. A method for charging a rechargeable battery in a medical device using an external charger, said method comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly transmitting an inductive power signal from the external charger to the medical device, said power signal including power for charging the rechargeable battery; in the medical device, measuring a value of a first variable relating to the power signal received by the medical device from the external charger; transmitting the value of the first variable from the medical device to the external charger using an RF transmission; in the external charger, measuring a value of a second variable relating to the power signal transmitted by the external charger to the medical device; and adjusting, in the external charger, the inductive power signal transmitted from the external charger to the medical device at least partly based on values of both said first variable and said second variable.
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Specification