Method and apparatus for supplying energy to an implant

• US 8,612,013 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kirk Promotion Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Milux Holding SA
• Inventors: Forsell, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US13/123,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60, 607/61, 607/33, 607/32
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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

Abstract

A system is disclosed which comprises an implantable electrical medical device (100) with an internal energy receiver (102). The system also comprises an external energy source (104) located externally for supplying wireless energy to the internal energy receiver (102). The external energy source (104) has a primary coil (11) for transmitting energy inductively to a first secondary coil (10) in the energy receiver (102). The system is arranged to measure parameters related to a first coupling factor (C1) between the primary and the first secondary coil (10), and the external energy source (104) is adapted to transmit energy to the energy receiver (102) for enabling the medical device (100) to detect information related to the first coupling factor (C1). The medical device (100) is adapted to wirelessly send feedback information related to said first coupling factor (C1) to the external energy source (104) with the external energy source (104) being arranged to receive the feedback information and to perform a predetermined action based on said feedback information.

Claims

1. A system comprising an electrically powered medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient, in which system the medical device comprises an internal energy receiver arranged to power the medical device, the system also comprising an external energy source adapted to be located externally to the patient for wireless supply of energy to said internal energy receiver, the external energy source being equipped with a primary coil from which the external energy source is arranged to transmit said energy inductively to a first secondary coil in the energy receiver, the system being arranged to determine by measurements one or more parameters related to a first coupling factor between the primary and the first secondary coil, in which system the external energy source is adapted to transmit a first amount of energy to the energy receiver for enabling the medical device to detect information related to the first coupling factor, the system is adapted to wirelessly send feedback information related to said first coupling factor to the external energy source with the external energy source being arranged to receive said feedback information from the medical device and in that the external energy source is adapted to perform a predetermined action based on said feedback information, and wherein the system is adapted to let the first secondary coil be substantially without electrical load when measuring the first coupling factor.

2. The system of claim 1, in which said predetermined action comprises optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor.

3. The system of claim 2, being adapted to use said first coupling factor to determine a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source to the internal energy receiver, said second amount of energy being optimized to power or charge the medical device.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising an indicator in the external energy source for indicating at least one of;

an optimal placement of the primary coil in relation to said first secondary coil, and a level of the first coupling factor, in order to optimize the first coupling factor.

5. The system of claim 1, further being adapted to increase said first amount of energy until said first coupling factor is detected by the system.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising a memory unit for storing information related to the first coupling factor.

7. The system of claim 1, also being arranged to directly or indirectly measure over a predetermined period of time the difference between an electrical parameter related to the energy transmitted by the external energy source and an electrical parameter related to the amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver, and to determine the balance between said electrical parameters in order to determine said first coupling factor.

8. The system of claim 1, in which the energy receiver comprises a half wave rectifying component for rectifying half of the pulse cycle of a received alternating current energy signal in the energy receiver, the system being adapted to measure parameters related to the first coupling factor during at least part of the non-rectified half of one or more pulse cycles.

9. The system of claim 1, in which the energy receiver comprises a first switch adapted to switch a connection between the first secondary coil and the medical implant on and off, in order to enable the system to measure the first coupling factor when the connection is off.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy receiver comprises an electronic component connected to said second secondary coil, for preventing or substantially reducing the flow of electrical current between the second secondary coil and the medical implant during the measurements of parameters related to the second coupling factor.

11. The system of claim 1, in which the medical device comprises an internal control unit arranged to receive information related to said first coupling factor from said external energy source and adapted to measure internal information within the medical device related to said first coupling factor, the internal control unit being arranged to calculate the feedback information based on said received and measured internal information, said feedback information being transmitted from said internal control unit and comprising complete information on said first coupling factor.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of;

at least one energy stabilizing unit in the medical device, arranged to stabilize wirelessly received energy prior to use by the medical device, in which the energy stabilizing unit comprises a capacitor, and an internal energy storage device for storing energy during said energy transfer, for use by the medical device.

13. The system of claim 1, in which at least one of the parameters which are measured is adapted to be calculated by at least one of;

an integration and a derivative.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said external energy source comprises an external control unit adapted to handle the detected information related to said first coupling factor, wherein the coupling factor information is adapted to be used as a feedback during energy transfer, wherein the energy receiver having a first electronic circuit connected to the first coil, wherein the external energy source comprising an external energy transmitter for transmitting wireless energy, the energy transmitter having a second electronic circuit connected to the second coil, wherein the system further comprises a feedback device for communicating out the amount of energy received in the first coil as a feedback information, and wherein the second electronic circuit includes a determination device for receiving the feedback information and for comparing the amount of transferred energy by the second coil with the feedback information related to the amount of energy received in the first coil to obtain the coupling factor between the first and second coils, wherein the external control unit is adapted to regulate and calibrate the transmitted energy in response to the obtained coupling factor.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising

an internal control unit adapted to determine a second energy balance between the energy received by the energy receiver and the energy used by the medical device, with the feedback information/control information also relating to said determined second energy balance, and

an external control unit adapted to at least one of;

calibrate and control the transmission of wireless energy from the energy source based on at least one of;

the first coupling factor, and the determined second energy balance, by using said feedback information/control information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said external energy source (104) comprises an external control unit, wherein the amount of energy emitted from the external energy source is adapted to be regulated by the external control unit, based on the determined energy balance, adapted to be repeated intermittently at certain intervals during ongoing energy transfer, or executed on a more or less continuous basis during the energy transfer, and wherein the amount of transferred energy is adapted to be regulated by adjusting various transmission parameters in the external energy source, being at least on of;

voltage, current, amplitude, wave frequency and pulse characteristics.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the energy balance is adapted to be determined based on at least one of;

a detected change followed over time in the amount of consumed and/or stored energy detected by determining over time the derivative of a measured electrical parameter related to the amount of consumed and/or stored energy, wherein the derivative at a first given moment is corresponding to the rate of the change at the first given moment, wherein the rate of change includes the direction and speed of the change, and the derivative is adapted to be determined based on a detected rate of change of the electrical parameter;

a detected difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy, the detected difference being related to the integral over time of at least one measured electrical parameter related to the energy balance, and wherein the integral of the electrical parameter may relate to the energy balance as an accumulated difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy.

18. The system of claim 1, comprising an implantable internal control unit and within the external energy source an external control unit, the system further adapted to at least one of;

a) increasing said first amount of energy transferred from the external energy source until said first coupling factor is detected by the system,

b) optimizing in said predetermined action the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor,

c) using said first coupling factor to determine and calibrate a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source,

d) measuring during energy transfer the coupling factor, to intermittently calibrate the energy transfer,

e) determining a second energy balance between the energy received by the energy receiver and the energy used by the medical device,

f) transferring feedback information/control information relating to said determined second energy balance and information related to the coupling factor, out from the body by said internal control unit, and

g) calibrating and controlling the transmission of wireless energy from the energy source by said external control unit based on at least one of;

the first coupling factor, and the determined second energy balance, by using said feedback information/control information.

19. The system of claim 1, comprising an external energy transmitter for wirelessly transmitting energy, the energy transmitter having a second electronic circuit connected to the second coil, wherein the system further comprises a feedback device for communicating a value related to the amount of energy received in the first coil as feedback information, wherein the second electronic circuit includes a determination device for receiving the feedback information and for comparing the amount of transferred energy by the second coil to the feedback information related to the amount of energy received in the first coil in order to obtain the coupling factor between the second coil and the first coil, wherein the energy transmitter may regulate the transmitted energy in response to the obtained value of the coupling factor, in which the external energy source is adapted to use said feedback information to regulate and calibrate the level of transmitted energy.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission of wireless energy from the external energy source is adapted to be controlled by applying to the external energy source electrical pulses from a electric circuit to transmit the wireless energy, the electrical pulses having leading and trailing edges, varying the lengths of first time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses and/or the lengths of second time intervals between successive trailing and leading edges of the electrical pulses, and transmitting wireless energy, the transmitted energy generated from the electrical pulses having a varied power, the varying of the power depending on the lengths of the first and/or second time intervals, the system further adapted to remain the electrical pulses unchanged except for varying the first and/or second time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses, and thus the frequency and amplitude of the electrical pulses are adapted to be substantially constant when varying the first and/or second time intervals.

21. A system comprising an electrically powered medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient, in which system the medical device comprises an internal energy receiver arranged to power the medical device, the system also comprising an external energy source adapted to be located externally to the patient for wireless supply of energy to said internal energy receiver, the external energy source being equipped with a primary coil from which the external energy source is arranged to transmit said energy inductively to a first secondary coil in the energy receiver, the system being arranged to determine by measurements one or more parameters related to a first coupling factor between the primary and the first secondary coil, in which system the external energy source is adapted to transmit a first amount of energy to the energy receiver for enabling the medical device to detect information related to the first coupling factor, the system is adapted to wirelessly send feedback information related to said first coupling facto he external energy source with the external energy source being arranged to receive said feedback information from the medical device and in that the external energy source is adapted to perform a predetermined action based on said feedback information, in which the energy receiver comprises a first switch adapted to switch a connection between the first secondary coil and the medical implant on and off, in order to enable the system to measure the first coupling factor when the connection is off.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising an implantable control unit adapted to control the switching on and off of said connection.

23. The system of claim 21, in which the switch is an electronic switch.

24. The system of claim 21, comprising a memory unit for storing information related to the first coupling factor.

25. The system of claim 21, in which said predetermined action comprises optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor, in which the external energy source is adapted to use the feedback information for optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil for optimizing the energy supply in the energy receiver.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising an indicator in the external energy source for indicating at least one of;

an optimal placement of the primary coil in relation to said first secondary coil, and a level of the first coupling factor, in order to optimize the first coupling factor.

27. The system of claim 21, further being adapted to increase said first amount of energy until said first coupling factor is detected by the system.

28. The system of claim 21, being adapted to use said first coupling factor to determine a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source to the internal energy receiver, said second amount of energy being optimized to power or charge the medical device, in which the external energy source is adapted to use said feedback information to calibrate the level of transmitted energy.

29. The system of claim 21, in which the medical device comprises an internal control unit arranged to receive information related to said first coupling factor from said external energy source and adapted to measure internal information within the medical device related to said first coupling factor, the internal control unit being arranged to calculate the feedback information based on said received and measured internal information, said feedback information being transmitted from said internal control unit and comprising complete information on said first coupling factor.

30. The system of claim 21, further comprising at least one of;

at least one energy stabilizing unit in the medical device, arranged to stabilize wirelessly received energy prior to use by the medical device, in which the energy stabilizing unit comprises a capacitor, and an internal energy storage device for storing energy during said energy transfer, for use by the medical device.

31. The system of claim 21, in which at least one of the parameters which are measured is adapted to be calculated by at least one of;

an integration and a derivative.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein said external energy source (104) comprises an external control unit adapted to handle the detected information related to said first coupling factor, wherein the coupling factor information is adapted to be used as a feedback during energy transfer, wherein the energy receiver having a first electronic circuit connected to the first coil, wherein the external energy source comprising an external energy transmitter for transmitting wireless energy, the energy transmitter having a second electronic circuit connected to the second coil, wherein the system further comprises a feedback device for communicating out the amount of energy received in the first coil as a feedback information, and wherein the second electronic circuit includes a determination device for receiving the feedback information and for comparing the amount of transferred energy by the second coil with the feedback information related to the amount of energy received in the first coil to obtain the coupling factor between the first and second coils, wherein the external control unit is adapted to regulate and calibrate the transmitted energy in response to the obtained coupling factor.

33. The system of claim 21, further comprising

an internal control unit adapted to determine a second energy balance between the energy received by the energy receiver and the energy used by the medical device, with the feedback information/control information also relating to said determined second energy balance, and

an external control unit adapted to at least one of;

calibrate and control the transmission of wireless energy from the energy source based on at least one of;

the first coupling factor, and the determined second energy balance, by using said feedback information/control information.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said external energy source (104) comprises an external control unit, wherein the amount of energy emitted from the external energy source is adapted to be regulated by the external control unit, based on the determined energy balance, adapted to be repeated intermittently at certain intervals during ongoing energy transfer, or executed on a more or less continuous basis during the energy transfer, and wherein the amount of transferred energy is adapted to be regulated by adjusting various transmission parameters in the external energy source, being at least on of;

voltage, current, amplitude, wave frequency and pulse characteristics.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the energy balance is adapted to be determined based on at least one of;

a detected change followed over time in the amount of consumed and/or stored energy detected by determining over time the derivative of a measured electrical parameter related to the amount of consumed and/or stored energy, wherein the derivative at a first given moment is corresponding to the rate of the change at the first given moment, wherein the rate of change includes the direction and speed of the change, and the derivative is adapted to be determined based on a detected rate of change of the electrical parameter;

a detected difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy, the detected difference being related to the integral over time of at least one measured electrical parameter related to the energy balance, and wherein the integral of the electrical parameter may relate to the energy balance as an accumulated difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy.

36. The system of claim 21, comprising an implantable internal control unit and within the external energy source an external control unit, the system further adapted to at least one of;

a) increasing said first amount of energy transferred from the external energy source until said first coupling factor is detected by the system,

b) optimizing in said predetermined action the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor,

c) using said first coupling factor to determine and calibrate a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source,

d) measuring during energy transfer the coupling factor, to intermittently calibrate the energy transfer,

e) determining a second energy balance between the energy received by the energy receiver and the energy used by the medical device,

f) transferring feedback information/control information relating to said determined second energy balance and information related to the coupling factor, out from the body by said internal control unit, and

g) calibrating and controlling the transmission of wireless energy from the energy source by said external control unit based on at least one of;

the first coupling factor, and the determined second energy balance, by using said feedback information/control information.

37. The system of claim 21, comprising an external energy transmitter for wirelessly transmitting energy, the energy transmitter having a second electronic circuit connected to the second coil, wherein the system further comprises a feedback device for communicating a value related to the amount of energy received in the first coil as feedback information, wherein the second electronic circuit includes a determination device for receiving the feedback information and for comparing the amount of transferred energy by the second coil to the feedback information related to the amount of energy received in the first coil in order to obtain the coupling factor between the second coil and the first coil, wherein the energy transmitter may regulate the transmitted energy in response to the obtained value of the coupling factor, in which the external energy source is adapted to use said feedback information to regulate and calibrate the level of transmitted energy.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein the transmission of wireless energy from the external energy source is adapted to be controlled by applying to the external energy source electrical pulses from a electric circuit to transmit the wireless energy, the electrical pulses having leading and trailing edges, varying the lengths of first time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses and/or the lengths of second time intervals between successive trailing and leading edges of the electrical pulses, and transmitting wireless energy, the transmitted energy generated from the electrical pulses having a varied power, the varying of the power depending on the lengths of the first and/or second time intervals, the system further adapted to remain the electrical pulses unchanged except for varying the first and/or second time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses, and thus the frequency and amplitude of the electrical pulses are adapted to be substantially constant when varying the first and/or second time intervals.

39. A system comprising an electrically powered medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient, in which system the medical device comprises an internal energy receiver arranged to power the medical device, the system also comprising an external energy source adapted to be located externally to the patient for wireless supply of energy to said internal energy receiver, the external energy source being equipped with a primary coil from which the external energy source is arranged to transmit said energy inductively to a first secondary coil in the energy receiver, the system being arranged to determine by measurements one or more parameters related to a first coupling, factor between the primary and the first secondary coil, in which system the external energy source is adapted to transmit a first amount of energy to the energy receiver for enabling the medical device to detect information related to the first coupling factor, the system is adapted to wirelessly send feedback information related to said first coupling factor to the external energy source with the external energy source being arranged to receive said feedback information from the medical device and in that the external energy source is adapted to perform a predetermined action based on said feedback information, in which the internal energy receiver comprises an electronic component connected to the first secondary coil for preventing flow of electrical current between the first secondary coil and the medical implant during measurement of parameters related to the first coupling factor.

40. The system of claim 39, in which the electronic component is a diode.

41. The system of claim 39, comprising a memory unit for storing information related to the first coupling factor.

42. The system of claim 39, in which said predetermined action comprises optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor, in which the external energy source is adapted to use the feedback information for optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil for optimizing the energy supply in the energy receiver.

43. The system of claim 42, further comprising an indicator in the external energy source for indicating at least one of;

an optimal placement of the primary coil in relation to said first secondary coil, and a level of the first coupling factor, in order to optimize the first coupling factor.

44. The system of claim 39, further being adapted to increase said first amount of energy until said first coupling factor is detected by the system.

45. The system of claim 39, being adapted to use said first coupling factor to determine a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source to the internal energy receiver, said second amount of energy being optimized to power or charge the medical device, in which the external energy source is adapted to use said feedback information to calibrate the level of transmitted energy.

46. The system of claim 39, in which the medical device comprises an internal control unit arranged to receive information related to said first coupling factor from said external energy source and adapted to measure internal information within the medical device related to said first coupling factor, the internal control unit being arranged to calculate the feedback information based on said received and measured internal information, said feedback information being transmitted from said internal control unit and comprising complete information on said first coupling factor.

47. The system of claim 39, further comprising at least one of;

at least one energy stabilizing unit in the medical device, arranged to stabilize wirelessly received energy prior to use by the medical device, in which the energy stabilizing unit comprises a capacitor, and an internal energy storage device for storing energy during said energy transfer, for use by the medical device.

48. The system of claim 39, in which at least one of the parameters which are measured is adapted to be calculated by at least one of;

an integration and a derivative.

49. The system of claim 39, wherein said external energy source (104) comprises an external control unit adapted to handle the detected information related to said first coupling factor, wherein the coupling factor information is adapted to be used as a feedback during energy transfer, wherein the energy receiver having a first electronic circuit connected to the first coil, wherein the external energy source comprising an external energy transmitter for transmitting wireless energy, the energy transmitter having a second electronic circuit connected to the second coil, wherein the system further comprises a feedback device for communicating out the amount of energy received in the first coil as a feedback information, and wherein the second electronic circuit includes a determination device for receiving the feedback information and for comparing the amount of transferred energy by the second coil with the feedback information related to the amount of energy received in the first coil to obtain the coupling factor between the first and second coils, wherein the external control unit is adapted to regulate and calibrate the transmitted energy in response to the obtained coupling factor.

50. The system of claim 39, further comprising

an internal control unit adapted to determine a second energy balance between the energy received by the energy receiver and the energy used by the medical device, with the feedback information/control information also relating to said determined second energy balance, and

an external control unit adapted to at least one of;

calibrate and control the transmission of wireless energy from the energy source based on at least one of;

the first coupling factor, and the determined second energy balance, by using said feedback information/control information.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said external energy source (104) comprises an external control unit, wherein the amount of energy emitted from the external energy source is adapted to be regulated by the external control unit, based on the determined energy balance, adapted to be repeated intermittently at certain intervals during ongoing energy transfer, or executed on a more or less continuous basis during the energy transfer, and wherein the amount of transferred energy is adapted to be regulated by adjusting various transmission parameters in the external energy source, being at least on of;

voltage, current, amplitude, wave frequency and pulse characteristics.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the energy balance is adapted to be determined based on at least one of;

a detected change followed over time in the amount of consumed and/or stored energy detected by determining over time the derivative of a measured electrical parameter related to the amount of consumed and/or stored energy, wherein the derivative at a first given moment is corresponding to the rate of the change at the first given moment, wherein the rate of change includes the direction and speed of the change, and the derivative is adapted to be determined based on a detected rate of change of the electrical parameter,

a detected difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy, the detected difference being related to the integral over time of at least one measured electrical parameter related to the energy balance, and wherein the integral of the electrical parameter may relate to the energy balance as an accumulated difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy.

53. The system of claim 39, comprising an implantable internal control unit and within the external energy source an external control unit, the system further adapted to at least one of;

a) increasing said first amount of energy transferred from the external energy source until said first coupling factor is detected by the system,

b) optimizing in said predetermined action the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor,

c) using said first coupling factor to determine and calibrate a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source,

d) measuring during energy transfer the coupling factor, to intermittently calibrate the energy transfer,

e) determining a second energy balance between the energy received by the energy receiver and the energy used by the medical device,

f) transferring feedback information/control information relating to said determined second energy balance and information related to the coupling factor, out from the body by said internal control unit, and

g) calibrating and controlling the transmission of wireless energy from the energy source by said external control unit based on at least one of;

the first coupling factor, and the determined second energy balance, by using said feedback information/control information.

54. The system of claim 39, comprising an external energy transmitter for wirelessly transmitting energy, the energy transmitter having a second electronic circuit connected to the second coil, wherein the system further comprises a feedback device for communicating a value related to the amount of energy received in the first coil as feedback information, wherein the second electronic circuit includes a determination device for receiving the feedback information and for comparing the amount of transferred energy by the second coil to the feedback information related to the amount of energy received in the first coil in order to obtain the coupling factor between the second coil and the first coil, wherein the energy transmitter may regulate the transmitted energy in response to the obtained value of the coupling factor, in which the external energy source is adapted to use said feedback information to regulate and calibrate the level of transmitted energy.

55. The system of claim 39, wherein the transmission of wireless energy from the external energy source is adapted to be controlled by applying to the external energy source electrical pulses from a electric circuit to transmit the wireless energy, the electrical pulses having leading and trailing edges, varying the lengths of first time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses and/or the lengths of second time intervals between successive trailing and leading edges of the electrical pulses, and transmitting wireless energy, the transmitted energy generated from the electrical pulses having a varied power, the varying of the power depending on the lengths of the first and/or second time intervals, the system further adapted to remain the electrical pulses unchanged except for varying the first and/or second time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses, and thus the frequency and amplitude of the electrical pulses are adapted to be substantially constant when varying the first and/or second time intervals.

56. A system comprising an electrically powered medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient, in which system the medical device comprises an internal energy receiver arranged to power the medical device, the system also comprising an external energy source adapted to be located externally to the patient for wireless supply of energy to said internal energy receiver, the external energy source being equipped with a primary coil from which the external energy source is arranged to transmit said energy inductively to a first secondary coil in the energy receiver, the system being arranged to determine by measurements one or more parameters related to a first coupling factor between the primary and the first secondary coil, in which system the external energy source is adapted to transmit a first amount of energy to the energy receiver for enabling the medical device to detect information related to the first coupling factor, the system is adapted to wirelessly send feedback information related to said first coupling factor the external energy source with the external energy source being arranged to receive said feedback information from the medical device and in that the external energy source is adapted to perform a predetermined action based on said feedback information, in which the energy receiver comprises a half wave rectifying component for rectifying half of the pulse cycle of a received alternating current energy signal in the energy receiver, the system being adapted to measure parameters related to the first coupling factor during at least part of the non-rectified half of one or more pulse cycles.

57. The system of claim 56, in which said predetermined action comprises optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor, in which the external energy source is adapted to use the feedback information for optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil for optimizing the energy supply in the energy receiver.

58. The system of claim 57, further comprising an indicator in the external energy source for indicating at least one of;

an optimal placement of the primary coil in relation to said first secondary coil, and a level of the first coupling factor, in order to optimize the first coupling factor.

59. The system of claim 56, further being adapted to increase said first amount of energy until said first coupling factor is detected by the system.

60. The system of claim 56, being adapted to use said first coupling factor to determine a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source to the internal energy receiver, said second amount of energy being optimized to power or charge the medical device, in which the external energy source is adapted to use said feedback information to calibrate the level of transmitted energy.

61. A system comprising an electrically powered medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient, in which system the medical device comprises an internal energy receiver arranged to power the medical device, the system also comprising an external energy source adapted to be located externally to the patient for wireless supply of energy to said internal energy receiver, the external energy source being equipped with a primary coil from which the external energy source is arranged to transmit said energy inductively to a first secondary coil in the energy receiver, the system being arranged to determine by measurements one or more parameters related to first coupling factor between the primary and the first secondary coil, in which system the external energy source is adapted to transmit a first amount of energy to the energy receiver for enabling the medical device to detect information related to the first coupling factor, the system is adapted to wirelessly send feedback information related to said first coupling factor to the external energy source with the external energy source being arranged to receive said feedback information from the medical device and in that the external energy source is adapted to perform a predetermined action based on said feedback information, also being arranged to directly or indirectly measure over a predetermined period of time the difference between an electrical parameter related to the energy transmitted by the external energy source and an electrical parameter related to the amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver, and to determine the balance between said electrical parameters in order to determine said first coupling factor.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the energy receiver comprises an electronic component connected to said second secondary coil, for preventing or substantially reducing the flow of electrical current between the second secondary coil and the medical implant during the measurements of parameters related to the second coupling factor.

63. The system of claim 61, in which the energy receiver comprises a first switch adapted to switch a connection between the first secondary coil and the medical implant on and off, in order to enable the system to measure the first coupling factor when the connection is off.

64. The system of claim 61, comprising a memory unit for storing information related to the first coupling factor.

65. The system of claim 61, in which said predetermined action comprises optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor, in which the external energy source is adapted to use the feedback information for optimizing the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil for optimizing the energy supply in the energy receiver.

66. The system of claim 65, further comprising an indicator in the external energy source for indicating at least one of;

an optimal placement of the primary coil in relation to said first secondary coil, and a level of the first coupling factor, in order to optimize the first coupling factor.

67. The system of claim 61, further being adapted to increase said first amount of energy until said first coupling factor is detected by the system.

68. The system of claim 61, being adapted to use said first coupling factor to determine a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source to the internal energy receiver, said second amount of energy being optimized to power or charge the medical device, in which the external energy source is adapted to use said feedback information to calibrate the level of transmitted energy.

69. The system of claim 61, in which the medical device comprises an internal control unit arranged to receive information related to said first coupling factor from said external energy source and adapted to measure internal information within the medical device related to said first coupling factor, the internal control unit being arranged to calculate the feedback information based on said received and measured internal information, said feedback information being transmitted from said internal control unit and comprising complete information on said first coupling factor.

70. The system of claim 61, further comprising at least one of;

at least one energy stabilizing unit in the medical device, arranged to stabilize wirelessly received energy prior to use by the medical device, in which the energy stabilizing unit comprises a capacitor, and an internal energy storage device for storing energy during said energy transfer, for use by the medical device.

71. The system of claim 61, in which at least one of the parameters which are measured is adapted to be calculated by at least one of;

an integration and a derivative.

72. The system of claim 61, wherein said external energy source (104) comprises an external control unit adapted to handle the detected information related to said first coupling factor, wherein the coupling factor information is adapted to be used as a feedback during energy transfer, wherein the energy receiver having a first electronic circuit connected to the first coil, wherein the external energy source comprising an external energy transmitter for transmitting wireless energy, the energy transmitter having a second electronic circuit connected to the second coil, wherein the system further comprises a feedback device for communicating out the amount of energy received in the first coil as a feedback information, and wherein the second electronic circuit includes a determination device for receiving the feedback information and for comparing the amount of transferred energy by the second coil with the feedback information related to the amount of energy received in the first coil to obtain the coupling factor between the first and second coils, wherein the external control unit is adapted to regulate and calibrate the transmitted energy in response to the obtained coupling factor.

73. The system of claim 61, further comprising

an internal control unit adapted to determine a second energy balance between the energy received by the energy receiver and the energy used by the medical device, with the feedback information/control information also relating to said determined second energy balance, and

an external control unit adapted to at least one of;

calibrate and control the transmission of wireless energy from the energy source based on at least one of;

the first coupling factor, and the determined second energy balance, by using said feedback information/control information.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein said external energy source (104) comprises an external control unit, wherein the amount of energy emitted from the external energy source is adapted to be regulated by the external control unit, based on the determined energy balance, adapted to be repeated intermittently at certain intervals during ongoing energy transfer, or executed on a more or less continuous basis during the energy transfer, and wherein the amount of transferred energy is adapted to be regulated by adjusting various transmission parameters in the external energy source, being at least on of;

voltage, current, amplitude, wave frequency and pulse characteristics.

75. The system of claim 73, wherein the energy balance is adapted to be determined based on at least one of;

a detected change followed over time in the amount of consumed and/or stored energy detected by determining over time the derivative of a measured electrical parameter related to the amount of consumed and/or stored energy, wherein the derivative at a first given moment is corresponding to the rate of the change at the first given moment, wherein the rate of change includes the direction and speed of the change, and the derivative is adapted to be determined based on a detected rate of change of the electrical parameter;

a detected difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy, the detected difference being related to the integral over time of at least one measured electrical parameter related to the energy balance, and wherein the integral of the electrical parameter may relate to the energy balance as an accumulated difference between the total amount of energy received by the internal energy receiver and the total amount of consumed and/or stored energy.

76. The system of claim 61, comprising an implantable internal control unit and within the external energy source an external control unit, the system further adapted to at least one of;

a) increasing said first amount of energy transferred from the external energy source until said first coupling factor is detected by the system,

b) optimizing in said predetermined action the placement of the primary coil in relation to the first secondary coil in order to optimize said first coupling factor,

c) using said first coupling factor to determine and calibrate a second amount of energy to be transmitted by said external energy source,

d) measuring during energy transfer the coupling factor, to intermittently calibrate the energy transfer,

e) determining a second energy balance between the energy received by the energy receiver and the energy used by the medical device,

f) transferring feedback information/control information relating to said determined second energy balance and information related to the coupling factor, out from the body by said internal control unit, and

g) calibrating and controlling the transmission of wireless energy from the energy source by said external control unit based on at least one of;

the first coupling factor, and the determined second energy balance, by using said feedback information/control information.

77. The system of claim 61, comprising an external energy transmitter for wirelessly transmitting energy, the energy transmitter having a second electronic circuit connected to the second coil, wherein the system further comprises a feedback device for communicating a value related to the amount of energy received in the first coil as feedback information, wherein the second electronic circuit includes a determination device for receiving the feedback information and for comparing the amount of transferred energy by the second coil to the feedback information related to the amount of energy received in the first coil in order to obtain the coupling factor between the second coil and the first coil, wherein the energy transmitter may regulate the transmitted energy in response to the obtained value of the coupling factor, in which the external energy source is adapted to use said feedback information to regulate and calibrate the level of transmitted energy.

78. The system of claim 61, wherein the transmission of wireless energy from the external energy source is adapted to be controlled by applying to the external energy source electrical pulses from a electric circuit to transmit the wireless energy, the electrical pulses having leading and trailing edges, varying the lengths of first time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses and/or the lengths of second time intervals between successive trailing and leading edges of the electrical pulses, and transmitting wireless energy, the transmitted energy generated from the electrical pulses having a varied power, the varying of the power depending on the lengths of the first and/or second time intervals, the system further adapted to remain the electrical pulses unchanged except for varying the first and/or second time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses, and thus the frequency and amplitude of the electrical pulses are adapted to be substantially constant when varying the first and/or second time intervals.