Moldable charger with support members for charging an implantable pulse generator

摘要

Electrical energy is transcutaneously transmitted from an external charger to an implanted medical device. The external charger includes a charging head that is selectively shaped to conform to the surface of a patient to enhance charge efficiency and patient comfort. The charging head has a plurality of malleable support members extending through the charging head for affixing the flexible charging head in the selected shape, while the flexible charging head conforms to the surface of the patient. The charging head may also include one or more sensors for determining the shape of a charging coil in the charging head, which cause the charge of the coil to be adjusted based on the coil shape.

主权项

1. An external charger for an implantable medical device, comprising:
a flexible charging head configured for being selectively shaped to conform to the surface of a patient; a plurality of malleable support members extending through the charging head for affixing the flexible charging head in the selected shape while the flexible charging head conforms to the surface of the patient; and an alternating current (AC) charging coil housed in the charging head and configured for transcutaneously transmitting electrical energy to the implanted medical device.