System and method for reducing heat of an implantable medical device during wireless charging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022203104-A1
Application number	US-202117170473-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 8, 2021
Priority date	Dec 30, 2020
Publication date	Jun 30, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wireless charger device is configured to charge an implantable medical device (IMD). A patient controller obtains one or more power parameters from the charger device during charging of the IMD. The patient controller estimates a temperature range of the IMD using the one or more power parameters from the charger device and compares to a heating threshold. The patient controller then determines whether one or more spacers are recommended in response to the comparison. The one or more spacers are removably attached to the wireless charger device and are configured to lay in a position between the wireless charger device and a patient's skin to increase a charging path.

First claim

1 . An external device, comprising:
a transceiver configured to communicate with a wireless charger device, wherein the wireless charger device is configured to provide energy to an implantable medical device (IMD); at least one processing circuit including at least one processing device and at least one memory device, wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
obtain one or more power parameters detected by a sensing circuit in the charger device; and
estimate a temperature range of the IMD using the one or more power parameters from the charger device.

2 . The external device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
compare the temperature range of the IMD to a heating threshold.

3 . The external device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
when the temperature range of the IMD exceeds the heating threshold, determine to recommend coupling at least one spacer to the charger device, wherein the at least one spacer is removably coupled to the charger device in a position to lay adjacent to a charging pad of the charger device and face a patient's skin.

4 . The external device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
determine a depth of the at least one spacer in response to the comparison of the temperature range of the IMD and the heating threshold.

5 . The external device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
determine the depth of the at least one spacer in response to a percentage that the temperature range of the IMD exceeds the heating threshold.

6 . The external device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
when the temperature range of the IMD is within the heating threshold, generate an indication to a user that a spacer is optional.

7 . The external device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more power parameters obtained from the charger device include one or more of: a bridge current, a bridge voltage or a phase difference between the bridge current and the bridge voltage.

8 . The external device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
determine the temperature range of the IMD using a predetermined correlation.

9 . An external device, comprising:
a transceiver configured to communicate with an implantable medical device (IMD), wherein a wireless charger device is configured to power the IMD; and at least one processing circuit including at least one processing device and at least one memory device, wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
obtain at least one temperature measurement from the IMD at each of a plurality of periodic intervals;
compare the at least one temperature measurement at each of the plurality of periodic intervals to one or more heating thresholds; and
when the at least one temperature measurement at one or more of the plurality of periodic intervals exceeds one or more of the heating thresholds, determine to recommend an implementation of at least one spacer, wherein the at least one spacer includes a fastener to couple the at least spacer to the charger device and position the at least one spacer on a charging pad of the charger device.

10 . The external device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to determine a depth of the at least one spacer.

11 . The external device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
determine to recommend the depth of the at least one spacer in response to a percentage that the at least one temperature measurement of the IMD exceeds the heating threshold.

12 . The external device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
obtain one or more power parameters from the IMD; and determine a depth of the at least one spacer using the one or more power parameters from the charger device and IMD.

13 . The external device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory device stores instructions that when executed by the at least one processing device, causes the external device to:
when the at least one temperature measurement at the plurality of periodic intervals of the IMD is within the heating threshold, generate an indication to a user that a spacer is optional.

14 . A method of an external device, wherein the external device controls at least one implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:
obtaining one or more power parameters from a wireless charger device, wherein the one or more power parameters are obtained when the wireless charger device is charging the IMD; and estimating a temperature range of the IMD using the one or more power parameters from the charger device.

15 . The method of the external device of claim 14 , comprising:
comparing the temperature range of the IMD to a heating threshold.

16 . The method of the external device of claim 15 , comprising:
when the temperature range of the IMD exceeds the heating threshold, determining to recommend coupling at least one spacer to the charger device, wherein the at least one spacer is removably coupled to the charger device in a position to lay adjacent to a charging pad of the charger device and face a patient's skin.

17 . The method of the external device of claim 16 , comprising:
determining a depth of the at least one spacer in response to the comparison of the temperature range of the IMD and the heating threshold.

18 . The method of the external device of claim 16 , comprising:
determining to recommend the depth of the at least one spacer in response to a percentage that the temperature range of the IMD exceeds the heating threshold.

19 . The method of the external device of claim 15 , comprising:
when the temperature range of the IMD is within the heating threshold, generating an indication to a user that a spacer is optional.

20 . The method of the external device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more power parameters obtained from the charger device include one or more of: a bridge current, a bridge voltage or a phase difference between the bridge current and the bridge voltage.

Assignees

• Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc

Inventors

• Hernandez Luis Ortiz
• Sun Li
• Sachs Nicholas

Classifications

• A61N1/3787 Primary

  from an external energy source · CPC title

• A61N1/08

  Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating {(for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925)} · CPC title

• A61N1/37247

  User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means · CPC title

• A61N1/36142

  for improving safety · CPC title