PORTABLE POWER CHARGING OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20120150259A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Meskens, Werner
• Granted Patent: US 9,132,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606

Abstract

An implantable medical device, comprising an implantable component having a rechargeable power supply and an external wireless charger. The wireless charger has a rechargeable power supply, and an inductive coil configured to transcutaneously transfer power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply, and configured to detect and receive, via the inductive coil, power from an auxiliary charger for recharging of the charger power supply.

Claims

1. An implantable medical system, comprising:

an implantable component having a rechargeable power supply; and

an external wireless charger having a rechargeable power supply, and an inductive coil configured to transcutaneously transfer power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply, and configured to detect and receive, via the inductive coil, power from an auxiliary charger for recharging of the charger power supply.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inductive coil of the wireless charger is connected to a power detector.

3. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) device.

4. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is a body worn device.

5. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage capacity of the charger power supply is larger than the energy storage capacity of the implantable power supply.

6. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger has a housing, and wherein the inductive coil is separated from the housing by a cable.

7. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger has a housing, and wherein the inductive coil is integrated into the housing.

8. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is adapted to sense the presence of an inductive field suitable for recharging the charger battery system, and in response switch to automatically recharge the charger power supply in the presence of the inductive field.

9. The medical system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external accessory configured to transcutaneously transfer data to the implantable component.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the external accessory comprises a microphone and a sound processor.

11. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power charger is further configured to transcutaneously transfer data to the implantable component.

12. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the wireless charger comprises a microphone and a sound processor.

13. The medical system of claim 1, further comprising:

the auxiliary charger.

14. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the auxiliary charger comprises an array of inductive coils for transfer of power to the wireless charger.

15. The medical system of claim 9, wherein the wireless charger is configured to provide power to the external accessory via the inductive coil.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining that the auxiliary charger is not present; and

repeating the steps of claim 1.

16. A method for operating a cochlear implant comprising an implantable component having a rechargeable power supply, an external wireless charger having a rechargeable power supply and an inductive coil, and an auxiliary charger, the method comprising:

transmitting power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply with the inductive coil;

disabling transmission of power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply; and

checking for at least one of the presence and absence of the auxiliary charger or implantable component, while the transmission of power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply is disabled.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining that the auxiliary charger is present;

activating a wireless link between the auxiliary charger and the wireless charger; and

receiving, with the inductive coil, power from the auxiliary charger for recharging of the charger power supply.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining if the charger power supply is fully charged prior to activating the wireless link between the auxiliary charger and the wireless charger.

20. A cochlear implant comprising:

an implantable component having a rechargeable power supply;

an external auxiliary charger; and

an external wireless charger having a rechargeable power supply, and an inductive coil configured to transcutaneously transfer power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply, and configured to detect and receive, via the inductive coil, power from the auxiliary charger for recharging of the charger power supply.

21. The cochlear implant of claim 20, wherein the energy storage capacity of the charger power supply is larger than the energy storage capacity of the implantable power supply.

22. The cochlear implant of claim 20, wherein the wireless charger has a housing, and wherein the inductive coil is separated from the housing by a cable.

23. The cochlear implant of claim 20, wherein the wireless charger has a housing, and wherein the inductive coil is integrated into the housing.

24. The cochlear implant of claim 20, wherein the wireless charger is adapted to sense the presence of an inductive field suitable for recharging the charger battery system, and in response switch to automatically recharge the charger power supply in the presence of the inductive field.

25. The cochlear implant of claim 20, further comprising:

an external accessory configured to transcutaneously transfer data to the implantable component.

26. The cochlear implant of claim 20, wherein the wireless power charger is further configured to transcutaneously transfer data to the implantable component.