Spinal cord stimulator system
First Claim
1. A wireless charger for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that generates spinal cord stimulation signals for a human body, the wireless charger comprising:
- a processor;
a charging coil adapted to be wirelessly coupled to a receiving coil of the implantable pulse generator to charge the rechargeable battery, wherein the charging coil is attached to a ferrite plate to increase its inductance;
a frequency generator configured to generate a charging signal under control of the processor;
a power amplifier configured to receive the charging signal and generate an amplified charging signal under control of the charging signal;
a reflected impedance sensor coupled to the charging coil to detect a reflected impedance of the charging coil;
a vibrator; and
an alignment circuit coupled to the reflected impedance sensor and the vibrator, the alignment circuit adapted to control the vibrator to output a tactile signal indicative of the alignment of the charging coil to the receiving coil based on the detected reflected impedance,wherein the charging coil is configured to receive the amplified charging signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless charger for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) is provided. The charging coil in the charger is wirelessly coupled to a receiving coil of the IPG to charge the rechargeable battery. The alignment circuit continuously detects a reflected impedance of the charging coil through a reflected impedance sensor, and controls a vibrator to output a tactile signal which is indicative of the alignment of the charging coil to the receiving coil based on the detected reflected impedance. Advantageously, the tactile feedback to the patient provides an optimal way to indicate the extent of the charger'"'"'s alignment with the IPG.
386 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A wireless charger for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that generates spinal cord stimulation signals for a human body, the wireless charger comprising:
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a processor; a charging coil adapted to be wirelessly coupled to a receiving coil of the implantable pulse generator to charge the rechargeable battery, wherein the charging coil is attached to a ferrite plate to increase its inductance; a frequency generator configured to generate a charging signal under control of the processor; a power amplifier configured to receive the charging signal and generate an amplified charging signal under control of the charging signal; a reflected impedance sensor coupled to the charging coil to detect a reflected impedance of the charging coil; a vibrator; and an alignment circuit coupled to the reflected impedance sensor and the vibrator, the alignment circuit adapted to control the vibrator to output a tactile signal indicative of the alignment of the charging coil to the receiving coil based on the detected reflected impedance, wherein the charging coil is configured to receive the amplified charging signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification