Charging system for an implantable medical device employing magnetic and electric fields
US9044616B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q9/42
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A base station for passively recharging a battery in an implant without patient involvement is disclosed. The base station can be hand held or may comprise equipment configured to be placed at a fixed location, such as under a bed, on or next to a wall, etc. The base station can generate electric and magnetic fields (E-field and B-field) that couple with an antenna and a receiving coil within the implant to generate a charging current for charging the implant's battery. No handling or manipulation on part of the patient is necessary; the implant battery is passively charged whenever the patient is within range of either the magnetic or electric charging fields generated by base station. Charging using the B-field occurs when the IPG is at a relatively short distance from the base station, while charging using the E-field occurs at longer distances. Back telemetry from the implant can inform the base station whether B-field or E-field charging is indicated, and is preferred if possible for its ability to transfer higher amounts of power to the implant.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.