Inductively rechargeable external energy source, charger, system and method for a transcutaneous inductive charger for an implantable medical device

• US 9,108,063 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, David P., Phillips, William C., Schmeling, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US14/231,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20140213978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 607 32- 33, 607 60- 61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3655 controlled by body or blood temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature

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.

Claims

1. A medical system, comprising:

an implantable medical device;

an external device configured to transcutaneously couple energy into the implantable medical device;

a sensor carried by the external device and configured to measure a temperature generated by the external device during coupling of the energy into the implantable medical device; and

a control circuit configured to compare the measured temperature to a programmable limit and to control the temperature based on the comparison.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the external device is an external charging device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store the programmable limit.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external antenna and wherein the sensor is carried by the external antenna.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is thermally-coupled to a surface of the external antenna to measure a temperature to which a patient is being exposed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a processor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature by adjusting a rate at which energy is coupled into the implantable medical device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a primary coil, and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature by limiting the current driving the primary coil.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature by limiting the time during which energy is transferred to the implantable medical device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature by alternatively terminating and initiating the transcutaneous coupling of energy into the implantable medical device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the external device is configured to be portable to allow a patient in which the implantable medical device is implanted to be ambulatory while energy is being provided to the implantable medical device.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage device configured to store executable instructions that when executed by the control circuit allow the control circuit to control the programmable limit.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage device configured to store executable instructions that when executed allow the programmable limit to be controlled.

14. A medical system, comprising:

an implantable medical device;

an external device configured to transcutaneously couple energy into the implantable medical device, the external device comprising a control circuit; and

a sensor carried by the external device and configured to measure an indication of a temperature generated by the external device during coupling of the energy into the implantable medical device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to compare the measured indication of the temperature to a programmable limit and to control the transcutaneous coupling of energy based on the comparison.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an external antenna and wherein the sensor is carried by the external antenna.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is thermally-coupled to a surface of the external antenna to measure a temperature to which a patient is being exposed.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature by adjusting a rate at which energy is coupled into the implantable medical device.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a primary coil, and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature by limiting the current driving the primary coil.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature by limiting the time during which energy is transferred to the implantable medical device.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the temperature by alternatively terminating and initiating the transcutaneous coupling of energy into the implantable medical device.

21. A medical system, comprising:

implantable medical means for utilizing energy delivered transcutaneously;

external means for transcutaneously delivering the energy to the implantable medical means;

sensor means carried by the external means, the sensor means for measuring an indication of a temperature generated by the delivery of energy to the implantable medical means; and

wherein the external means further comprises means for comparing the measured indication of the temperature to a programmable limit and for controlling the transcutaneous delivery of energy into the implantable medical means to control the measured indication of the temperature.

22. A medical system, comprising:

an implantable medical device;

an external device configured to transcutaneously provide energy to the implantable medical device;

a sensor carried by the external device and configured to measure a temperature of the external device while the external device is providing energy to the implantable medical device; and

a control circuit configured to compare the measured temperature to a programmable limit and to control the temperature based on the comparison.