INDUCTIVELY RECHARGEABLE EXTERNAL ENERGY SOURCE, CHARGER, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A TRANSCUTANEOUS INDUCTIVE CHARGER FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE
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Abstract
A mechanism for transferring energy from an external power source to an implantable medical device is disclosed. A sensor may be used to measure a parameter that correlates to a temperature of the system that occurs during the transcutaneous coupling of energy. For example, the sensor may measure temperature of a surface of an antenna of the external power source. The measured parameter may then be compared to a programmable limit. A control circuit such as may be provided by the external power source may then control the temperature based on the comparison. The programmable limit may be, for example, under software control so that the temperature occurring during transcutaneous coupling of energy may be modified to fit then-current circumstances.
12 Citations
31 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A medical system, comprising:
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an implantable medical device; an external device configured to transcutaneously transfer energy to the implantable medical device; a sensor configured to measure a temperature indicative of heat resulting from the transcutaneous transfer of energy to the implantable medical device; and a control circuit configured to compare the measured temperature to a programmable limit and to control the transfer of energy based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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transferring, via an external device, energy transcutaneously to an implantable medical device; sensing, via a sensor, a temperature indicative of heat resulting from the transcutaneous transfer of energy to the implantable medical device; comparing, via a control circuit, the temperature to a programmable limit; and controlling the transfer of energy based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A medical system, comprising:
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an implantable medical device; means for transcutaneously transferring energy to the implantable medical device; means for measuring a temperature indicative of heat resulting from the transcutaneous transfer of energy to the implantable medical device; and means for comparing the measured temperature to a programmable limit; and means for controlling the transfer of energy based on the comparison.
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Specification