Recharge system extending depth and area of useful recharge via dynamically adjusted rectification mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11951318-B2
Application number	US-202017079098-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2020
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

Devices and methods described herein relate to wireless recharging from a distance, and increasing the efficiency of such charging by intelligently or autonomously changing the rectification mode of the implanted device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An external charging device comprising:
a first antenna configured to output a recharge signal;
a second antenna configured to transmit and receive telemetry signals;
a telemetry module configured to receive a level of implantable medical device battery charge current from the second antenna; and
a processor coupled to the telemetry module, the first antenna, and the second antenna, wherein the processor is configured to:
direct the first antenna to output the recharge signal, and
direct the second antenna to output instructions to configure the rectification mode of a corresponding implanted device to fullwave or halfwave based upon the level of implantable medical device battery charge current.

2. The wireless recharger of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are a common antenna, and wherein the processor is configured to direct the common antenna to output the recharge signal and the instructions at different times.

3. The wireless recharger of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are a common antenna, and wherein the processor is configured to combine the output instructions and the recharge signal for simultaneous transmission.

4. The external charging device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to output the instructions based upon the level of implantable medical device battery charge current and a hysteresis factor.

5. The external charging device of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna, the second antenna, the telemetry module, and the processor are arranged in a housing configured for use in a sacral nerve stimulation system.

6. The external charging device of claim 5 , wherein the housing is shaped to be wearable in a belt.

7. The external charging device of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna, the second antenna, the telemetry module, and the processor are arranged in a housing configured for use in a tibial nerve stimulation system.

8. A method of wirelessly recharging an implantable medical device, the method comprising:
(a) emitting a recharging signal at an antenna of a wireless recharger;
(b) collecting telemetry data at the wireless recharger corresponding to a level of charge current in the implantable medical device; and
(c) transmitting an output instruction from the wireless recharger to the implanted medical device including an instruction for a rectification mode, wherein:
the output instruction is a fullwave rectification instruction when the charge current is greater than a threshold, and;
the output instruction is a halfwave rectification instruction when the charge current is less than the threshold.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the threshold is based upon the charge current plus or minus a hysteresis value.

10. A system comprising:
a wireless recharger including an antenna configured to output a recharge signal and a telemetry module configured to receive a level of charge current in a battery;
an implanted device including:
a battery;
a device telemetry module configured to transmit a level of charge current in the battery; and
a processor configured to direct the implanted device to operate in a fullwave rectified wireless signal or a halfwave rectified wireless signal based upon the level of charge current.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein a processor is arranged in the wireless recharger.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the implanted device is configured to receive the recharge signal and operate in any of at least two modes of rectification of the recharge signal to charge the implanted device; and
the processor is configured to determine the optimal rectification mode for the implant to be operating according to an algorithm.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor applies the algorithm to compare a charge current in the implanted device against a threshold plus or minus a hysteresis value to determine which rectification mode is more optimal.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to compare a peak voltage of the rectified recharge signal plus or minus a hysteresis value to operate the implanted device in the rectification mode that results in greater charge current.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to compare a sensed magnetic field at the implanted device to a threshold to operate the implanted device in the rectification mode that results in greater charge current.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is a microcontroller arranged within the implanted device.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the antenna is configured to receive information pertinent to the optimal rectification mode transmitted by the implanted device at an out-of-band frequency such that the recharge signal can be maintained continuously by the external charging device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the antenna is configured to receive information pertinent to the optimal rectification mode that is superimposed with the recharge signal.

19. The system of claim 10 , wherein the implanted device includes a charge current detection circuit configured to detect the level of charge current.

20. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a belt configured to hold the wireless recharger.

Assignees

• Medtronic Inc

Inventors

• Fried Andrew
• Smith Todd V

Classifications

• H02J7/94

  in response to battery current · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/40

  characterised by the exchange of charge or discharge related data · CPC title

• A61N1/3787 Primary

  from an external energy source · CPC title