Transcutaneous energy transfer system with vibration inducing warning circuitry

• US 8,766,788 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abiomed, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abiomed, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: D'Ambrosio, Ralph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/328,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.1, 340/539.12, 340/538.16, 340/539.24, 340/539.3, 340/463, 340/7.6, 340/7.32, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0204 of power management
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An improved alarm device for use in a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system is provided. The device includes a processor configured to monitor at least one function of an implanted cardiac assist device and to generate an internal vibratory alarm.

Claims

1. A transcutaneous energy transfer system, comprising:

an implantable cardiac assist device

one or more secondary coils adapted for implantation within a patient in conjunction with the cardiac assist device, the one or more secondary coils further configured to receive energy from one or more primary coils disposed outside the patient by inductive coupling;

a rechargeable battery pack to store energy received by the secondary coils;

a control module for controlling the cardiac assist device;

an alarm module for producing a plurality of different patterns of vibrations; and

a processor configured to monitor the battery pack, secondary coils, and cardiac assist device and alert the patient to any abnormal operating conditions with a vibratory alarm, the processor further configured to direct the alarm module to generate different vibration patterns based on different levels of urgency to the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a single biocompatible housing containing the rechargeable battery pack, control module, alarm module, and processor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to direct the alarm module to generate different intensities of vibration.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to direct the alarm module to generate different timed pulses.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the different patterns of vibration provide multiple warnings of different degrees of urgency as a battery in the rechargeable battery back exhausts itself.