Solar-powered external charger and solar-powered external charger cradle for medical implantable device systems

• US 9,401,625 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Zottola, Dennis, Aghassian, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/271,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/114, 320/15, 607/33, 607/61, 607/65, 607/103, 607/150
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

Disclosed are an external charger including a solar cell array for charging or powering an implantable medical device (IMD), and a cradle including a solar cell array for charging or powering an external charger for charging or powering an implantable medical device. The disclosed improved external charger or improved cradle are particularly beneficial for charging a battery in an external charger used to charge or power an IMD when a power source is otherwise unavailable, such as a wall socket.

Claims

1. An external charger for providing power to an implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing containing a charging coil configured to produce a magnetic field to provide power to the implantable medical device;

a battery within the housing configured to provide power to the charging coil for producing the magnetic field;

a charge circuit within the housing configured to provide a charging current to the battery, wherein the charge circuit is powered at an input;

a solar cell coupled to the housing and configured to produce a first voltage at the input through a first diode when exposed to illumination; and

a node configured to provide the input a second voltage when connected to a power source,

wherein neither the first voltage nor the second voltage are provided to the input through a switch.

2. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be hand-holdable and portable, or to be worn by a patient.

3. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the node comprises a contact on the housing.

4. The external charger of claim 3, wherein the contact is configured to meet with a cradle contact when positioned in a cradle.

5. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the node provides the second voltage to the input thought a second diode.

6. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a rigid plastic.

7. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the charging coil is proximate to the bottom surface, and wherein the solar cell is coupled to the top surface of the housing.

8. The external charger of claim 7, wherein the solar cell is recessed within the top surface of the housing.

9. The external charger of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier coupled to the charging coil, wherein the battery is configured to power the amplifier to provide the power to the charging coil for producing the magnetic field.

10. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the power source is derived from a wall socket.

11. The external charger of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a charging cradle configured to hold the housing of the external charger.

12. An external charger for providing power to an implantable medical device, comprising:

a rigid housing comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;

a charging coil within the housing proximate to the bottom surface configured to produce a magnetic field to provide power to the implantable medical device;

a battery within the housing configured to provide power to the charging coil for producing the magnetic field;

a charge circuit within the housing configured to provide a charging current to the battery, wherein the charge circuit receives power at an input; and

a solar cell coupled to the top surface of the housing and configured to produce a first voltage at the input when exposed to illumination.

13. The external charger of claim 12, wherein the housing is configured to be hand-holdable and portable, or to be worn by a patient.

14. The external charger of claim 13, further comprising a node configured to provide the input a second voltage when connected to a power source.

15. The external charger of claim 14, wherein the power source is derived from a wall socket.

16. The external charger of claim 14, wherein the second voltage prevents the first voltage from reaching the input.

17. The external charger of claim 14, wherein the node comprises a contact passing through the bottom surface of the housing.

18. The external charger of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a plastic.

19. The external charger of claim 12, wherein the solar cell is recessed within the top surface of the housing.

20. The external charger of claim 12, further comprising an amplifier coupled to the charging coil, wherein the battery is configured to power the amplifier to provide the power to the charging coil for producing the magnetic field.

21. The external charger of claim 12, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are substantially planar.

22. A system, comprising:

an external charger configured to wirelessly provide power to an implantable medical device from a battery in the external charger; and

a cradle configured to hold a housing of the external charger, wherein the cradle is electrically coupleable to the external charger and comprises a solar cell, and wherein the cradle is configured to use energy from the solar cell to charge the battery in the external charger when the external charger is electrically coupled to the cradle.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the cradle comprises a recess configured to hold the housing of the external charger.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the cradle and the external charger comprise contacts, and wherein the cradle is electrically coupled to the external charger at the contacts when the external charger housing is held in the cradle.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the external device cradle is additionally configured to use energy from a wall socket to charge the battery in the external charger when the external charger is electrically coupled to the cradle.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the external charger further comprises an additional solar cell for providing energy to charge the battery in the external charger.