Accessory for an implant

• US 9,320,909 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• 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): HUANG, WEN WU
• Application Number:
  US13/123,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20110195666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,388 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/068 using impedance sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0004 Closure means for urethra or rectum, i.e. anti-incontinence devices or support slings against pelvic prolapse
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

An accessory (11) for use with an implanted medical device (100, 102) in a mammal body is intended for use externally to said mammal body and is arranged to wirelessly transmit signals to said implanted medical device (100,102). Said signals are sent in order to initiate a backup function or a backup system in said implanted medical device. The signals can be sent to initiate said backup function or backup system to override a built in control and/or powering system of the implanted device (100, 102). Also, the accessory can send said signals as wireless power signals to a receiver (102) for wirelessly receiving power in said implanted medical device, the signal information regarding the backup function being coded into said power signals.

Claims

1. An internal power source adapted to be implanted in a mammal patient'"'"'s body for supplying power to an implanted medical device in the mammal'"'"'s body, the internal power source comprising a receiver adapted to wirelessly receive power from a first external power source external to the patient'"'"'s body, when and if the implanted medical device is malfunctioning, said receiver comprising:

a coil, and

a backup system arranged to receive external signals comprising information adapted to initiate a re-start of the mal-functioning medical device, and which trigger the backup system to override one or more other functions for controlling and powering said medical device, to at least achieve some degree of functionality in the malfunctioning implanted medical device,

said backup system being arranged to perform an emergency activity, said activity comprising a predetermined activity in the implanted medical device comprising at least one of;

running a motor and pumping using a pump, and

said backup system being further arranged to use the wirelessly transferred energy for performing said predetermined activity.

2. The internal power source of claim 1, wherein the backup system is adapted to override at least one of:

a malfunctioning power system of the implanted device, and the main function of the device.

3. The internal power source of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a power switch to switch said coil on and off from connection with said implanted medical device.

4. The internal power source of claim 1, further comprising a control unit which is arranged to make and control transmissions of feedback information to the first external power source, said information being related to the power received from the first external power supply.

5. The internal power source according to claim 4, wherein the feedback information comprises information on a predetermined variable parameter which is related to the wirelessly received energy in the medical implant.

6. The internal power source according to claim 5, adapted to wirelessly receive said energy in varied amounts, based on the feedback information.

7. The internal power source according to claim 5, when receiving a specific command includes receiving a wirelessly transmitted energy field adapted to operate the medical device by:

sending a predetermined feedback information out from the body, such information having at least one variable parameter,

communicating digital information related to an amount of received energy, and

performing a predetermined emergency activity simultaneously as the receiving of said wirelessly transmitted energy.

8. The internal power source according to claim 4, comprising an internal control unit and a power switch, wherein the feedback information is created by the internal control unit controlling the power switch and thereby switching the power switch on and off for creating a pattern of digital pulses of varied impedance load arranged to be detectable by the first external power source.

9. The internal power source of claim 1, wherein the internal power source is adapted to use an accessory, placed external to the patient'"'"'s body, including the first external power source.

10. The internal power source according to claim 1, wherein the accessory is adapted to:

in response to the malfunctioning of the medical device, being caused by a power failure, to wirelessly send power to the medical device, in order to power the operation of the backup function in the device, or

in response to the malfunctioning of the medical device, being a malfunction other than power failure, wirelessly send both information signals and power to the medical device, in order to power the operation of the backup function in the device.

11. The internal power source according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined activity comprises at least one of:

the opening of an artificial restriction device on a bodily organ, such as a sphincter, a urethra or an intestine,

the closing of an artificial restriction device on an artificial bodily organ, such as an artificial sphincter, an artificial urethra or an artificial intestine,

releasing a pharmaceutical drug within the patient'"'"'s body,

emptying a luminal organ within the patient'"'"'s body,

emptying a urine bladder, and

stimulating a part of the patient'"'"'s body.

12. The internal power source according to claim 1 further comprising an accessory for use external to the patient'"'"'s body and adapted for wirelessly transmitting signals to said implanted medical device, the signals being adapted to be sent in order to initiate a backup function or a backup system in said implanted medical device to override a built in control and powering system of the implanted device, wherein the accessory is arranged to send said signals as power signals wirelessly to a receiver, for wirelessly receiving power in said implanted medical device, wherein said signals comprises information regarding the backup function being coded into said power signals,

wherein the receiver of the power source comprises a coil, and

said medical device backup system of the power source is adapted to perform said predetermined activity comprising at least one of:

running a motor, and

pumping a fluid.

13. The internal power source according to claim 12, wherein the accessory is arranged to at least one of:

send signals as wirelessly transmitted information signals,

wirelessly transmit power to said device, in order to power the operation of the backup function in the implanted medical device,

wirelessly receive signals from said implanted medical device,

using said received signals to determine whether the accessory should send further signals, or energy or signals and energy to the implanted medical device.

14. The internal power source according to claim 12, wherein the first external power source is arranged to wirelessly supply power to the internal power source in the implanted medical device to energize or charge said internal power source, the first external power source comprising a first coil through which energy can be passed to be supplied to the internal energy source in the implanted device.

15. The internal power source according to claim 14, wherein the first external power source is arranged to detect impedance variations when moved in relation to the implanted device, in order to optimize the position of the accessory with respect to the position of the internal power source of the implanted device, said optimization being for the supply of energy and for transferring information signals between the first external and the internal power source, said impedance variation being an impedance maximum or minimum.

16. The internal power source according to claim 15, wherein the position of the first external power source is optimized with respect to the internal power source.

17. The internal power source according to claim 15, wherein the first external power source comprises an analyzing unit arranged to:

analyze detected impedance variations, and

indicate an optimal placement of said second coil or of the accessory in relation to said implanted device or said second coil based on the analyzed impedance variations.

18. The internal power source according to claim 14, wherein the first external power source is arranged to calibrate the supply of energy to the internal power source by increasing the amount of transferred energy to the internal power source until a change is detected, said change being in excess of or below a predefined threshold.

19. The internal power source according to claim 12 further comprising an indicator arranged to indicate a better position for supplying energy to the internal power source.

20. The internal power source according to claim 19, wherein said indicator comprises a display arranged to display the feedback information.