Wireless recharging system and method for flexible implantable subcutaneous medical device
Inventors
Amir, Jack • Mocha, Moty • Strommer, Gera • Kelley, James • Broder, Avraham
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10293174-B2
Publication Date
2019-05-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
Flexible subcutaneous implantable medical device (IMD), including an elongated and flexible body, a plurality of electronic components, at least one rechargeable battery, at least one antenna, at least one lead and at least one transition unit, the antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation and the lead for providing an electric shock, wherein the elongated and flexible body is structured from a plurality of units, wherein a first one of the plurality of units encapsulates the rechargeable battery, wherein each one of the other plurality of units respectively encapsulates a respective one of the plurality of electronic components, wherein the antenna is positioned in the transition unit, wherein the transition unit is covered with a biocompatible polymer, wherein the antenna receives electromagnetic radiation for recharging the rechargeable battery and wherein the antenna includes a copper coil having a generally cylindrical shape.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a subcutaneous implantable medical device (IMD) recharging system that includes an elongated and flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD adapted to be implanted in a patient. The flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD comprises at least one receiver antenna, at least one rechargeable battery, an interface coupled between the receiver antenna and the rechargeable battery, and at least one lead terminating at least one end. The elongated and flexible body is structured from a plurality of units, each one of the plurality of units comprising an electronic component.
The system further includes a charger transmitter for providing electromagnetic (EM) radiation to the at least one receiver antenna wirelessly for recharging the at least one rechargeable battery. The charger transmitter comprises at least one transmitter antenna encased in a structure for temporarily coupling the at least one transmitter antenna to the skin of the patient, and the interface is for interfacing the provided EM radiation between the receiver antenna and the rechargeable battery. The described architecture is intended for a flexible subcutaneous IMD in which receiver antenna placement is arranged to avoid Faraday-cage effects from an active metal housing.
The document discloses receiver antenna configurations for a cylindrical and omnidirectional receiver, including a folded flexible foil with overlaid copper forming a cylindrical receiver, and a copper coil wound around a hollow ferrite core forming a cylindrical receiver. It also describes that the system may recharge the battery with recharging control that can include constant current/voltage, convey programming or data during wireless power transfer using modulated EM radiation, and communicate status or metrics such as charging current, charging voltage, and internal temperature, with optional control to cease transmission when temperature exceeds a threshold.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim covers a flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD having receiver antenna(s), rechargeable battery/batteries, an interface, and leads, together with a charger transmitter that provides wireless EM radiation via transmitter antenna(s) temporarily coupled to the patient skin. The inventive features include the structured flexible IMD body from a plurality of units and specific transmitter antenna encasing/coupling to skin, with additional refinements emphasizing transmitter antenna/receiver antenna footprint relationships, programming via modulated EM radiation, RF status channel processing, and selected charging/battery metrics such as charging current, current voltage, and internal temperature.
Wireless recharging with flexible subcutaneous IMD receiver antenna interface
A flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD adapted to be implanted in a patient, comprising at least one receiver antenna, at least one rechargeable battery, and an interface coupled between the at least one receiver antenna and the at least one rechargeable battery, within an elongated and flexible body having at least one lead terminating at least one end of the flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD.
Charger transmitter providing EM radiation via transmitter antenna temporarily coupled to skin
A charger transmitter for providing electromagnetic (EM) radiation to the at least one receiver antenna wirelessly for recharging the at least one rechargeable battery, the charger transmitter comprising at least one transmitter antenna wherein the at least one transmitter antenna is encased in a structure for temporarily coupling the at least one transmitter antenna to the skin of said patient.
Interface for interfacing provided EM radiation between receiver antenna and rechargeable battery
The interface is for interfacing the provided EM radiation between the at least one receiver antenna and the at least one rechargeable battery.
Elongated flexible body structured from a plurality of units
The elongated and flexible body is structured from a plurality of units, each one of said plurality of units comprising an electronic component of said flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD.
Transmitter antenna encasing enables patient-curvature conformal coupling
The transmitter antenna is flexible in at least one of the horizontal or vertical directions to conform to the patient's body curvature.
Differential transmitter and receiver antenna footprint constraints
The charger transmitter includes a transmitter antenna that uses a wide antenna footprint while a receiver antenna uses a narrow antenna footprint.
RF status information channel with translator
The charger transmitter includes an RF channel that transmits status information and a translator that converts received status information into at least one of an ultra high frequency short-wavelength wireless channel or a serial channel.
Modulated EM radiation carries programming information
A charger transmitter includes a modulator that modulates EM radiation and simultaneously transmits programming information to the flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD using the modulated EM radiation.
Selection of charging and thermal metrics
The system selects metrics including the charging current, current voltage, and internal temperature of the rechargeable battery units.
Across the independent claim and the provided dependent claim extracts, the recharging system centers on wireless EM radiation from a charger transmitter to a flexible subcutaneous IMD receiver antenna via an interface to a rechargeable battery, with transmitter antenna coupling to patient skin. The structured flexible IMD body from multiple units is combined with refinements related to antenna conformance and footprints, concurrent programming over modulated EM radiation, status information using an RF channel and translator, and measuring or selecting charging current, current voltage, and internal temperature.
Stated Advantages
Avoidance of Faraday-cage effects from an active metal housing by arranging receiver antenna placement.
Documented Applications
Wireless recharging of a flexible elongated subcutaneous implantable medical device (IMD) adapted to be implanted in a patient using a charger transmitter with skin-coupled transmitter antenna(s).
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