External power source for an implantable medical device having an adjustable carrier frequency and system and method related therefore

• US 20050075697A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, David P., Schmeling, Andrew L., Nelson, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A transcutaneous energy transfer system, transcutaneous charging system, external power source, external charger and methods of transcutaneous energy transfer and charging for an implantable medical device and an external power source/charger. The implantable medical device has a secondary coil adapted to be inductively energized by an external primary coil at a carrier frequency. The external power source/charger has a primary coil and circuitry capable of inductively energizing the secondary coil by driving the primary coil at a carrier frequency adjusted to the resonant frequency to match a resonant frequency of the tuned inductive charging circuit, to minimize the impedance of the tuned inductive charging circuit or to increase the efficiency of energy transfer.

Claims

1. An external power source for an implantable medical device having operational componentry and a secondary coil operatively coupled to said operational componentry, comprising:

a primary coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency when said primary coil of said external power source is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having a resonant frequency;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to said resonant frequency.

2. An external power source for an implantable medical device having operational componentry and a secondary coil operatively coupled to said operational componentry, comprising:

a primary coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency when said primary coil of said external power source is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an impedance;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to minimize said impedance.

3. An external power source for an implantable medical device having operational componentry and a secondary coil operatively coupled to said operational componentry, comprising:

a primary coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency when said primary coil of said external power source is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an energy transfer efficiency;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to increase said energy transfer efficiency of said inductively tuned charging circuit.

4. A charger for an implantable medical device having a rechargeable power source and a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source, comprising:

a primary charging coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary charging coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency when said primary charging coil of said external charger is externally placed in proximity of said secondary charging coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having a resonant frequency;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to said resonant frequency.

5. A charger for an implantable medical device having a rechargeable power source and a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source, comprising:

a primary charging coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary charging coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency when said primary charging coil of said external charger is externally placed in proximity of said secondary charging coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an impedance;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to minimize said impedance.

6. A charger for an implantable medical device having a rechargeable power source and a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source, comprising:

a primary charging coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary charging coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency when said primary charging coil of said external charger is externally placed in proximity of said secondary charging coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an energy transfer efficiency;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to increase said energy transfer efficiency of said inductively tuned charging circuit.

7. A system for transcutaneous energy transfer, comprising:

an implantable medical device, comprising;

operational componentry; and

a secondary coil operatively coupled to said operational componentry; and

an external power source, comprising;

a primary coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency when said primary coil of said external power source is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having a resonant frequency;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to said resonant frequency.

8. A system for transcutaneous energy transfer, comprising:

an implantable medical device, comprising;

operational componentry; and

a secondary coil operatively coupled to said operational componentry; and

an external power source, comprising;

a primary coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency when said primary coil of said external power source is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an impedance;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to minimize said impedance.

9. A system for transcutaneous energy transfer, comprising:

an implantable medical device, comprising;

operational componentry; and

a secondary coil operatively coupled to said operational componentry; and

an external power source, comprising;

a primary coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency when said primary coil of said external power source is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an energy transfer efficiency;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to increase said energy transfer efficiency of said inductively tuned charging circuit.

10. system for charging, comprising:

an implantable medical device, comprising;

a rechargeable power source; and

a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source; and

an external charger, comprising;

a primary charging coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary charging coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency when said primary charging coil of said external charger is externally placed in proximity of said secondary charging coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having a resonant frequency;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to said resonant frequency.

11. system for charging, comprising:

an implantable medical device, comprising;

a rechargeable power source; and

a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source; and

an external charger, comprising;

a primary charging coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary charging coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency when said primary charging coil of said external charger is externally placed in proximity of said secondary charging coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an impedance;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to minimize said impedance.

12. system for charging, comprising:

an implantable medical device, comprising;

a rechargeable power source; and

a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source; and

an external charger, comprising;

a primary charging coil; and

circuitry, operatively coupled to said primary charging coil, capable of inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency when said primary charging coil of said external charger is externally placed in proximity of said secondary charging coil creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an energy transfer efficiency;

said circuitry adjusting said carrier frequency to increase said energy transfer efficiency of said inductively tuned charging circuit.

13. A method of transcutaneous energy transfer to a medical device implanted in a patient having a secondary coil using a power source having a primary coil, comprising the steps of:

positioning said primary coil externally of said patient in proximity of said secondary coil;

inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency, creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having a resonant frequency; and

adjusting said carrier frequency to a resonant frequency of said tuned inductive charging circuit.

14. A method of transcutaneous energy transfer to a medical device implanted in a patient having a secondary coil using a power source having a primary coil, comprising the steps of:

positioning said primary coil externally of said patient in proximity of said secondary coil;

inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency, creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an impedance; and

adjusting said carrier frequency to minimize said impedance.

15. A method of transcutaneous energy transfer to a medical device implanted in a patient having a secondary coil using a power source having a primary coil, comprising the steps of:

positioning said primary coil externally of said patient in proximity of said secondary coil;

inductively energizing said secondary coil by driving said primary coil at a carrier frequency, creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an energy transfer efficiency; and

adjusting said carrier frequency to increase said energy transfer efficiency of said tuned inductive charging circuit.

16. A method of charging a rechargeable power source of a medical device implanted in a patient, having a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source, using an external charger having a primary charging coil, comprising the steps of:

positioning said primary charging coil externally of said patient in proximity of said secondary charging coil;

inductively energizing said secondary charging coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency, creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having a resonant frequency; and

adjusting said carrier frequency to a resonant frequency of said tuned inductive charging circuit.

17. A method of charging a rechargeable power source of a medical device implanted in a patient, having a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source, using an external charger having a primary charging coil, comprising the steps of:

positioning said primary charging coil externally of said patient in proximity of said secondary charging coil;

inductively energizing said secondary charging coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency, creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an impedance; and

adjusting said carrier frequency to minimize said impedance.

18. A method of charging a rechargeable power source of a medical device implanted in a patient, having a secondary charging coil operatively coupled to said rechargeable power source, using an external charger having a primary charging coil, comprising the steps of:

positioning said primary charging coil externally of said patient in proximity of said secondary charging coil;

inductively energizing said secondary charging coil by driving said primary charging coil at a carrier frequency, creating a tuned inductive charging circuit having an energy transfer efficiency; and

adjusting said carrier frequency to increase said energy transfer efficiency of said tuned inductive charging circuit.