Medical device battery charging system and methods

• US 9,155,900 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Meskens, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/922,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20140379047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses may be used to charge battery-powered devices using a charging device. Such battery-powered devices include the external portions of auditory prostheses or other medical devices. The charging device prioritizes the charging requirements of a number of batteries and transfers power to one or more batteries. The charging device also sends a signal to activate an indicator on each external portion.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first status signal from a first medical device, wherein the first medical device comprises a first battery;

sending a first communication signal to the first medical device, wherein the first communication signal is associated with a first state of charge of the first battery;

activating an indicator based at least in part on the first status signal; and

transferring energy based at least in part on the first status signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second status signal from a second medical device, wherein the second medical device comprises a second battery; and

transferring energy to at least one of the first battery and the second battery based at least in part on the first status signal and the second status signal.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending a second communication signal to the second medical device, wherein the second communication signal is associated with a second state of charge of the second battery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferred energy comprises at least one of a trickle charge, a normal charge, a fast charge, an end of charge, and a forced discharge.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first status signal comprises at least one of a level of charge, a voltage, a current, a percentage of total charge available, a battery charging history, a battery type, a battery identification number, and a battery authentication key, of the first battery.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a plurality of indication states.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a third status signal from a third medical device, wherein the third medical device comprising a battery; and

transferring energy to at least one of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery based at least in part on the first status signal, the second status signal, and the third status signal.

8. A method comprising:

sending a first status signal from a first medical device to a charging device when the first medical device is located proximate the charging device, wherein the first medical device comprises a first battery and an indicator;

receiving a first communication signal from the charging device, wherein the first communication signal is associated with a first state of charge of the first battery and instructs the first medical device to activate the indicator; and

receiving power based at least in part on the first status signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the received energy comprises at least one of a trickle charge, a normal charge, a fast charge, an end of charge, and a forced discharge.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first status signal comprises at least one of a level of charge, a voltage, a current, and a percentage of total charge available, of the first battery.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a plurality of indication states.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of indication states are associated a state selected from the following:

a charging state, a discharging state, a charged state, steady state, a low battery state, a high battery state, and an error state.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a speaker, an LED, a display, and a vibration element.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a first status signal associated with a first battery of a first medical device;

receiving a second status signal associated with a second battery of a second medical device;

determining an action based at least in part on the first status signal and the second status signal; and

sending an instruction to transfer energy to only one of the first battery and the second battery based at least in part on the determined action.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending a first communication signal to the first medical device, wherein the first communication signal is associated with a first state of charge of the first battery.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending a second communication signal to the second medical device, wherein the second communication signal is associated with a second state of charge of the second battery.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the instruction comprises instruction to transfer energy as a trickle charge, a normal charge, a fast charge, an end of charge, and a forced discharge.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first medical device further comprises an indicator and wherein the first communication signal causes the indicator to activate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a plurality of indication states.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising transferring energy to at least one of the first battery and the second battery.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the first status signal and the second status signal are received from an output of the charging device at a device external to each of the charging station, the first medical device, and the second medical device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the determining step is performed by the external device, wherein the external device is a personal computer.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the action is determined based at least in part on a recipient instruction.

24. A system comprising:

a first medical device comprising a first battery;

a charging device for receiving the first medical device; and

a processor coupled to the charging device, wherein the processor is capable of executing instructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising;

receiving a first status signal from the first medical device; and

sending a first communication signal to the first medical device, wherein the first communication signal is associated with a first state of charge of the first battery.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a second medical device comprising a second battery, and wherein at least one of the first medical device and the second medical device comprise an external portion of a cochlear implant.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second status signal from the second medical device;

determining an action based at least in part on the first status signal; and

sending an instruction to transfer energy to at least one of the first battery and the second battery based at least in part on the determined action.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises sending a second communication signal to the second medical device, wherein the second communication signal is associated with a second state of charge of the second battery.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising a third medical device comprising a third battery.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a third status signal from a third medical device;

determining an action based at least in part on the first status signal, the second status signal, and the third status signal; and

sending an instruction to transfer energy to at least one of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery based at least in part on the determined action.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises transferring energy to at least one of the first battery and the second battery.