Automatic on-off charger for an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. An external charger for charging a battery in an implantable medical device, comprising:
- a coil; and
control circuitry configured to automatically energize the coil to generate a charging field without initiation by a user, wherein the control circuitry comprises circuitry to;
periodically energize the coil to generate a first field;
evaluate a voltage across the coil or a current through the coil to determine if the external charger is possibly proximate to the implantable medical device during the generation of the first field; and
energize the coil to generate the charging field when it is determined that the external charger is possibly proximate to the implantable medical device.
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Abstract
An external charger for an implantable medical device is disclosed which can automatically detect an implant and generate a charging field. The technique uses circuitry typically present in an external charger, such as control circuitry, a Load Shift Keying (LSK) demodulator, and a coupling detector. An algorithm in the control circuitry periodically issues charging fields of short duration in a standby mode. If the coupling detector detects the presence of a conductive material, the algorithm issues a listening window during which a charging field is generated. If an LSK reply signal is received at the LSK demodulator, the external charger can charge the implant in a normal fashion. If a movement signature is detected at the LSK demodulator indicative of a predetermined user movement of the external charger, a charging field is issued for a set timing period, to at least partially charge the IPG battery to restore LSK communications.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An external charger for charging a battery in an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a coil; and control circuitry configured to automatically energize the coil to generate a charging field without initiation by a user, wherein the control circuitry comprises circuitry to; periodically energize the coil to generate a first field; evaluate a voltage across the coil or a current through the coil to determine if the external charger is possibly proximate to the implantable medical device during the generation of the first field; and energize the coil to generate the charging field when it is determined that the external charger is possibly proximate to the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for charging a battery in an implantable medical device using an external charger, comprising:
automatically energizing a coil in the external charger to generate a charging field without initiation by a user by; periodically energizing the coil to generate a first field; evaluating a voltage across the coil or a current through the coil during the generation of the first field to determine if the external charger is possibly proximate to the implantable medical device; and energizing the coil to generate the charging field when it is determined that the external charger is possibly proximate to the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification