Device and method for aiding the positioning of an external part relative to an implantable part of a charging system for an implantable medical device
US6088619A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/3787
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a device and a method for aiding the positioning of an external transmitting part relative to an implantable receiving part of a charging system for charging a rechargeable power source of an implantable medical device such as an implantable hearing aid. The external transmitting and the implantable receiving part each has a resonant circuit with a transmitting coil and a receiving coil respectively. These coils can be inductively coupled to one another by corresponding manual positioning of the external transmitting part for transcutaneous power transmission. The external transmitting part is provided with an oscillator which is connected to the transmitting resonant circuit and the oscillator has a resonant frequency which shifts as a function of the coupling between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil. The external transmitting part is also provided with a measurement arrangement for determining the frequency detuning of the oscillator and an evaluation arrangement for outputting a positioning signal as a function of the determined frequency detuning of the oscillator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.