Resonant power transfer systems with communications

• US 10,615,642 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hansen, John Freddy, McEachern, Ian Coll
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Inge, Joseph N
• Application Number:
  US15/032,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20160254704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/538 Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/585 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises a transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, a receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, a medical device configured to receive power from the receive resonator, a controller configured to change an operating parameter of the medical device resulting in a change to a sonic signature of the medical device, and a listening device configured to determine an intended communication from the implanted medical device or the implanted receive resonator based on the change to the sonic signature coming from the implanted medical device.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:

a transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power;

an implanted receive resonator implanted in a patient and configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator;

an implanted medical device implanted in the patient and configured to receive power from the implanted receive resonator;

a controller configured to;

determine an intended communication indicating a power level of the implanted medical device; and

deliberately change an operating parameter of the implanted medical device to cause a change in a sonic signature generated by the implanted medical device in order to convey the intended communication to an external user interface device; and

the external user interface device including a microphone, the external user interface device configured to;

detect the change in the sonic signature using the microphone; and

determine, based on the change in the sonic signature, the power level of the implanted medical device indicated by the intended communication.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the external user interface device further comprises a display configured to display information relating to the power level of the implanted medical device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the external user interface device is wearable.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the external user interface device is affixed to a wrist strap.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the external user interface device is affixed to a belt.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the intended communication includes an alert.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the implanted medical device comprises a left ventricular assist device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein to deliberately change an operating parameter, the controller is configured to deliberately change a speed of a pump of the left ventricular assist device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein to deliberately change an operating parameter, the controller is configured to deliberately introduce a harmonic into a drive signal of the implanted medical device.

10. A method of transmitting wireless power and communications, comprising:

transmitting wireless power from an external transmit resonator to an implanted receive resonator that is implanted in a patient;

receiving wireless power with the implanted receive resonator;

powering an implanted medical device implanted in the patient with the received power;

determining, using a controller, an intended communication indicating a power level of the implanted medical device;

deliberately changing, using the controller, an operating parameter of the implanted medical device to cause a change in a sonic signature of the implanted medical device in order to convey the intended communication to an external user interface device;

detecting, using a microphone of the external user interface device, the change in the sonic signature; and

determining, using the external user interface device, the power level of the implanted medical device indicated by the intended communication based on the change in the sonic signature.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising displaying information relating to the power level of the implanted medical device to a user on the external user interface device.