EXTERNAL CHARGER WITH ADJUSTABLE ALIGNMENT INDICATOR

摘要

Electrical energy is transcutaneously transmitted at a plurality of different frequencies to an implanted medical device. The magnitude of the transmitted electrical energy respectively measured at the plurality of frequencies. One of the frequencies is selected based on the measured magnitude of the electrical energy (e.g., the frequency at which the measured magnitude of the electrical energy is the greatest). A depth level at which the medical device is implanted within the patient is determined based on the selected frequency. For example, the depth level may be determined to be relatively shallow if the selected frequency is relatively high, and relatively deep if the selected frequency is relative low. A charge strength threshold at which a charge strength indicator generates a user-discernible signal can then be set based on the determined depth level.

主权项

1. An external charger for an implantable medical device, comprising:
a coil configured to generate a magnetic field to provide power to the implantable medical device; an indicator configured to indicate to a user alignment of the external charger to the implantable medical device in accordance with a threshold; control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to sweep a frequency at which the coil is driven to generate the magnetic field; and a detector configured to measure a magnitude of an electrical parameter of the coil as the control circuitry sweeps the frequency, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
select a frequency based on the measured magnitude of the electrical parameter, andselect the threshold for use by the indicator using the selected frequency.