Techniques for Controlling Charging of Batteries in an External Charger and an Implantable Medical Device
First Claim
1. A method for charging an implant battery in an implantable medical device and an external battery in an external charger, comprising:
- using circuitry in the external charger to determine that both the external battery in the external charging device and the implant battery in the implantable medical device require charging;
using circuitry in the external charger to enable charging a first battery comprising either the external battery or the implant battery while disabling charging of a second battery comprising the other of the external battery or the implant battery; and
upon determining using circuitry in the external charger that the first battery is charged to a pre-determined level, using circuitry in the external charger to disable charging of the first battery while enabling charging of the second battery.
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Abstract
Disclosed are charging algorithms implementable in an external charger for controlling the charging of both an external battery in the external charger and an implant battery in an implantable medical device. Because full-powered simultaneous charging of both batteries can generate excessive heat in the external charger, the various charging algorithms are designed to ensure that both batteries are ultimately charged, but in a manner considerate of heat generation. In some embodiments, the charging algorithms prevent simultaneous charging of both batteries by arbitrating which battery is given charging precedence at a given point in time. In other embodiments, the charging algorithms allow for simultaneous charging of both batteries, but with at least one of the batteries being only weakly charged at low power levels. In other embodiments, the temperature generated in the external charger is monitored and used to control the charging algorithm. In these embodiments, if a safe temperature is exceeded, then the charging algorithms change to new temperature-reducing schemes which still allow for both batteries to be ultimately charged.
63 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for charging an implant battery in an implantable medical device and an external battery in an external charger, comprising:
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using circuitry in the external charger to determine that both the external battery in the external charging device and the implant battery in the implantable medical device require charging; using circuitry in the external charger to enable charging a first battery comprising either the external battery or the implant battery while disabling charging of a second battery comprising the other of the external battery or the implant battery; and upon determining using circuitry in the external charger that the first battery is charged to a pre-determined level, using circuitry in the external charger to disable charging of the first battery while enabling charging of the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for charging an implant battery in an implantable medical device and an external battery in an external charger, comprising:
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using circuitry in the external charger to determine that both the external battery in the external charging device and the implant battery in the implantable medical device require charging; and using circuitry in the external charger alternate between charging of the external battery and the implant battery. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for charging an implant battery in an implantable medical device and an external battery in an external charger, comprising:
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using circuitry in the external charger to determine that both the external battery in the external charging device and the implant battery in the implantable medical device require charging; and using circuitry in the external charger to control the external charger to simultaneously charge the external battery and the implant battery, wherein the external charger controls charging of either or both of the external battery and the implant battery at a lower average power level than would be used were either battery to be charged by itself. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for charging an implant battery in an implantable medical device and an external battery in an external charger, comprising:
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using circuitry in the external charger to determine that both the external battery in the external charging device and the implant battery in the implantable medical device require charging; and using circuitry in the external charger to simultaneously charge the external battery and the implant battery at full power levels; using circuitry in the external charger to assess a temperature of the external charger; if the assessed temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, using circuitry in the external charger to charge one or both of the external battery or the implant battery at less than their full power levels. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method for charging an implant battery in an implantable medical device and an external battery in an external charger, comprising:
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using circuitry in the external charger to determine that both the external battery in the external charging device and the implant battery in the implantable medical device require charging; and activating a first algorithm in the external charger for charging the external battery and the implant battery; using circuitry in the external charger to assess a temperature of the external charger; if the assessed temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, activating a second algorithm in the external charger for charging the external battery and the implant battery. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An external charger for interfacing with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a battery charging circuit for controlling the charging of an external battery in the external charger; a transmitter for controlling a wireless transmission to the implantable medical device, wherein the wireless transmission provides power to charge an implant battery in the implantable medical device; control circuitry for implementing an algorithm to selectively enable the battery charging circuit and the transmitter in the event that the control circuitry determines that both the external battery and the implant battery requires charging. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An external charger for interfacing with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a battery for producing a battery voltage; an AC power source for producing a DC voltage, wherein the DC voltage is usable to charge the battery; and a transmitter for providing power wirelessly to charge a battery in an implantable medical device, the transmitter comprising a resonant circuit powered by a power supply voltage, wherein the power supply voltage is selectable between the battery voltage and the DC voltage. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification