BATTERY RECHARGE MANAGEMENT FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20110077720A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Torgerson, Nathan A., Riekels, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,989,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36142 for improving safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An implantable medical device having an implantable power source such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The implantable medical device includes a recharge module that regulates the recharging process of the implantable power source using closed-loop feedback control. The recharge module includes a recharge regulator, a recharge measurement device monitoring at least one recharge parameter, and a recharge regulation control unit for regulating the recharge energy delivered to the power source in response to the recharge measurement device. The recharge module adjusts the energy provided to the power source to ensure that the power source is being recharged under safe levels.

Claims

1. A recharge management system for an implantable medical device, comprising in combination:

a rechargeable power source operatively coupled with the implantable medical device;

a recharge coil operatively coupled with the implantable medical device and being capable of receiving energy from an external device to recharge the rechargeable power source;

a recharge measurement device configured to monitor a recharge parameter associated with the recharge management system; and

a recharge regulation control unit configured to regulate a charging rate of the rechargeable power source by increasing the charging rate based, at least in part, on the recharge parameter.

2. The recharge management system of claim 1 wherein the recharge measurement device further monitors a temperature of a component of an implantable medical device and wherein the recharge regulation control unit increases the charging rate, at least in part, in response to the temperature monitored by the recharge measurement device.

3. The recharge management system of claim 2 wherein the recharge regulation control unit increases the charging rate if the temperature is safe and a current level and a voltage level of the rechargeable power source are below a charge rate capacity of the rechargeable power source.

4. The recharge management system of claim 1 wherein the recharge management device further monitors a temperature component of the implantable medical device.

5. The recharge management system of claim 1 wherein the recharge regulation control unit also being capable of decreasing the charging rate in response to the input voltage and the temperature monitored by the recharge measurement device.

6. The recharge management system of claim 1 wherein the recharge regulation control unit initially provides a relative low charging rate and subsequently increases the charging rate.

7. The recharge management system of claim 1 wherein the recharge regulation control unit increases the charging rate to improve recharge efficiency.

8. The recharge management system of claim 7 wherein the recharge regulation control unit decreases the charging rate to reduce risk of damage to the rechargeable power source.

9. The recharge management system of claim 7 wherein the recharge regulation control unit decreases the charging rate if components of the implantable medical device are heating up above safe limits.

10. The recharge management system of claim 1, further comprising a telemetry unit providing communication between the external device and the recharge regulation control unit to adjust the charging rate provided by the external device.

11. The recharge management system of claim 1 wherein the recharge parameter is selected from the group consisting of, input voltage to the power source, input current to the power source, power source voltage, and power source charge.

12. The recharge management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a recharge regulator receiving the energy from the recharge coil and providing the energy to the rechargeable power source, and

wherein the recharge parameter is selected from the group consisting of input voltage to the recharge regulator, output voltage from the recharge regulator, input current to the recharge regulator, output current from the recharge regulator.

13. A method of recharging a power source within an implantable medical device, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving energy within the implantable medical device from an external energy source;

(b) recharging the power source with the energy;

(c) sensing at least one recharge parameter of the implantable medical device in response to the step of recharging, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of an input voltage to the power source, an input current to the power source, a power source voltage and a power source charge; and

(d) regulating, with an implanted circuit, the step of recharging in response to the step of sensing by increasing a charging rate of the power source in response to the recharge parameter.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said recharge parameter is further selected from the group consisting of a temperature of the power source, a temperature of the recharge coil and a temperature of the outer shield and wherein the regulating step further increases the charging rate in response, at least in part, to the temperature sensed in the sensing step.

15. The method of recharging of claim 14 wherein the regulating step further comprises decreasing the charging rate in response to at least one of the input voltage and the temperature monitored by the recharge measurement device.

16. The method of recharging of claim 14 wherein the regulating step increases the charging rate if the temperature is safe and a current level and a voltage level of the rechargeable power source are below a charge rate capacity of the rechargeable power source.

17. The method of recharging of claim 13 wherein the regulating step initially provides a relative low charging rate and subsequently increases the charging rate.

18. The method of recharging of claim 17 wherein the regulating step increases the charging rate to improve recharge efficiency.

19. The method of recharging of claim 18 wherein the regulating step decreases the charging rate to reduce risk of damage to the rechargeable power source.

20. The method of recharging of claim 18 wherein the regulating step decreases the charging rate if components of the implantable medical device are heating up above safe limits.

21. The method of recharging of claim 13 wherein the step of regulating increases the charging rate to improve recharge efficiency.

22. The method of recharging of claim 13 wherein the step of regulating reduces the charging rate to reduce the risk of damage to the power source.

23. The method of recharging of claim 13 wherein the step of regulating reduces the charging rate to prevent overheating of the implantable medical device.

24. The method of recharging of claim 13 wherein the implantable medical device comprises a recharge regulator and wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of an input voltage to the recharge regulator, an input voltage to the power source, an output voltage from the recharge regulator, an input current to the recharge regulator, an input current to the power source, an output current from the recharge regulator, a power source voltage and a power source charge.

25. A recharge management system for an implantable medical device, comprising in combination:

an external device providing a source of recharge energy;

a rechargeable power source operatively coupled with the implantable medical device;

a recharge coil operatively coupled with the implantable medical device and being capable of receiving energy from the external device to recharge the rechargeable power source;

a recharge measurement device configured to monitor a recharge parameter associated with the recharge management system; and

a recharge regulation control unit configured to regulate a charging rate of the rechargeable power source by increasing the charging rate based, at least in part, on the recharge parameter.

26. The recharge management system of claim 25 wherein the recharge measurement device further monitors a temperature of a component of an implantable medical device and wherein the recharge regulation control unit increases the charging rate, at least in part, in response to the temperature monitored by the recharge measurement device.

27. The recharge management system of claim 26 wherein the recharge regulation control unit increases the charging rate if the temperature is safe and a current level and a voltage level of the rechargeable power source are below a charge rate capacity of the rechargeable power source.

28. The recharge management system of claim 25 wherein the recharge management device further monitors a temperature component of the implantable medical device.

29. The recharge management system of claim 25 wherein the recharge regulation control unit also being capable of decreasing the charging rate in response to the input voltage and the temperature monitored by the recharge measurement device.

30. The recharge management system of claim 25 wherein the recharge regulation control unit initially provides a relative low charging rate and subsequently increases the charging rate.

31. The recharge management system of claim 25 wherein the recharge regulation control unit increases the charging rate to improve recharge efficiency.

32. The recharge management system of claim 31 wherein the recharge regulation control unit decreases the charging rate to reduce risk of damage to the rechargeable power source.

33. The recharge management system of claim 31 wherein the recharge regulation control unit decreases the charging rate if components of the implantable medical device are heating up above safe limits.

34. The recharge management system of claim 25, further comprising a telemetry unit providing communication between the external device and the recharge regulation control unit to adjust the charging rate provided by the external device.

35. The recharge management system of claim 25 wherein the recharge parameter is selected from the group consisting of, input voltage to the power source, input current to the power source, power source voltage, and power source charge.

36. The recharge management system of claim 25, further comprising:

a recharge regulator receiving the energy from the recharge coil and providing the energy to the rechargeable power source, and

wherein the recharge parameter is selected from the group consisting of input voltage to the recharge regulator, output voltage from the recharge regulator, input current to the recharge regulator, and output current from the recharge regulator.