External Controller for an Implantable Medical Device System with an External Charging Coil Powered by an External Battery

摘要

An integrated external controller/charger system for an implantable medical device is disclosed comprising an external controller/charger device with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and first battery, and an external charging coil assembly coupleable to the external controller/charger device and including or associated with a second battery. The second battery is used to energize a charging coil in the external charging coil assembly, while the first battery is used to power other aspects of the system (data telemetry circuitry, control circuitry, the GUI, etc.). Because the second battery powers the relatively high-power charging function, the first battery in the external controller/charger device can be made smaller. Additionally, the second battery enables a suitable external controller device (e.g. a mobile device such as a cell phone) to provide charging functionality even if its first battery is otherwise inadequate.

主权项

1. A charging coil assembly for use with a medical device, comprising:
a housing; a first connector extending from the housing and configured to couple to a first port of an external controller; a charging coil within the housing configured to produce a magnetic charging field for the medical device, wherein production of the magnetic charging field is controlled by the external controller via the first connector; and a battery within the housing, wherein the battery is configured to power first circuitry to energize the charging coil to produce the magnetic charging field, wherein the charging coil assembly does not contain a user interface configured to receive an input from a user.