Electrical contacts on a medical device patch

• US 8,948,871 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Original Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Inventors: Mashiach, Adi, Ruytjens, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US13/952,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 607/62
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36189 using modulation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A device for conveying power from a location external to a subject to a location within the subject may include a flexible carrier and an adhesive on a first side of the carrier. A coil of electrically conductive material may be associated with the flexible carrier. A mechanical connector may be associated with the carrier opposite the adhesive, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to retain a housing and permit the housing to rotate relative to the flexible carrier. At least one electrical portion may be associated with the carrier in a manner permitting electrical connection to be maintained between the flexible carrier and the housing as the housing is rotated.

Claims

1. A device for conveying power from a location external to a subject to a location within the subject, the device comprising:

a housing;

an electronics portion disposed within the housing, the electronics portion including at least one coil of electrically conductive material, the at least one coil configured to facilitate wireless power transfer to an implant located at the location within the subject to modulate the branched fibers of a hypoglossal nerve, the at least one coil having a plurality of windings; and

a mechanical connector associated with the housing configured to retain a flexible carrier and permit the housing to rotate relative to the flexible carrier, the flexible carrier including an adhesive and being configured for attachment to skin of the subject.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to permit more than about 360-degree rotation of the housing relative to the flexible carrier.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to permit rotation of less than about 360-degree rotation of the housing relative to the flexible carrier.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical connector includes a pair of electrical contacts arranged substantially equidistant from a center of the housing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical connector includes a plurality of connectors in electrical communication with the electronics portion.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one electrical connector associated with the housing in a manner permitting electrical connection to be maintained between the housing and the flexible carrier as the housing is rotated.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the electrical connector is configured to maintain a connection between the electronics portion and a battery associated with the flexible carrier.

8. A device for conveying power from a location external to a subject to a location within the subject, the device comprising:

a flexible carrier including a receiver, the flexible carrier being shaped to facilitate placement at the location external to the subject, the location external to the subject being between a chin and a neck of the subject and adjacent to the location within the subject, and wherein the location within the subject includes branched fibers of a hypoglossal nerve;

at least one coil of electrically conductive material located within a housing and configured to facilitate power transfer to an implant located at the location within the subject to modulate the branched fibers of the hypoglossal nerve, the at least one coil having a plurality of windings; and

wherein the housing includes a mechanical connector configured to mate with the receiver and permit the housing to rotate relative to the flexible carrier.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the flexible carrier further includes an electrical portion, the electrical portion configured to maintain electrical contact with at least one electrical connector associated with the housing as the housing is rotated.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the electrical portion includes conductive material arranged in a discontinuous circle.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the electrical connector includes a pair of electrical contacts arranged substantially equidistant from a center of the housing.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the distance of the electrical contacts from the center of the housing is substantially equal to a radius of the electrical portion.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the electrical portion includes a pattern of discontinuous conductive material arranged on the flexible carrier.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the flexible carrier further includes a battery.

15. A device for conveying power from a location external to a subject to a location within the subject, the device comprising:

a flexible carrier shaped to facilitate placement between a chin and a neck of the subject adjacent to an internal location of branched fibers of a hypoglossal nerve, the flexible carrier;

an adhesive on a first side of the carrier;

at least one coil of electrically conductive material located within a housing and configured to facilitate power transfer to an implant located at the location within the subject to modulate the branched fibers of the hypoglossal nerve, the at least one coil having a plurality of windings; and

a mechanical connector associated with the carrier opposite the adhesive, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to retain the housing and permit the housing to rotate relative to the flexible carrier.