Implantable power adapter
AssigneeBioness Inc.
InventorsKeith McBride, Arkady Glukhovsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus includes a power adapter having a housing and a circuit at least partially disposed in the housing. The housing is configured to be coupled to an implantable device for disposition in a body. The circuit is configured to be electrically connected to a power circuit of the implantable device when the housing is coupled to the implantable electrical conductor. When the housing is coupled to the implantable electrical conductor and implanted in a body, the circuit is configured to (1) receive, transcutaneously from a power supply, a first energy, (2) convert the first energy to a second energy, and (3) transfer, to the implantable device, the second energy such that the second energy powers the implantable device.
Claims27
A method, comprising:
- receiving, transcutaneously at a first conductor of a power adapter and from an electrical pulse generator, a first energy having at least a first characteristic, the power adapter having a housing forming the first conductor, a second conductor disposed in the housing and electrically connected to an implantable electrical conductor coupled to the power adapter, and a sleeve disposed about a portion of the housing to electrically insulate the second conductor from the first energy outside of the sleeve;
- converting, via a rectification circuit disposed in the housing, the first energy to a second energy having at least a second characteristic different from the first characteristic, the rectification circuit electrically connected between the first conductor and a second conductor;
- and
- transferring, from the rectification circuit and to the implantable electrical conductor via the second conductor, the second energy such that a stimulating electrode of the implantable electrical conductor applies the second energy to a target nerve internal to a body.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, via a housing of a power adapter, a first energy having a first set of characteristics from a power source outside of the body, the power adapter and an implantable device coupled to the power adapter being implanted in a body such that a stimulating electrode of the implantable device is proximate to a target nerve in the body;
- converting, via a circuit of the power adapter disposed in the housing, the first energy to a second energy having a second set of characteristics different from the first set of characteristics, the circuit electrically connecting the housing to a pick-up electrode of the implantable device disposed in the housing, the power adapter having a sleeve disposed about a portion of the housing and electrically insulating the pick-up electrode from the first energy outside of the sleeve;
- and
- transferring the second energy from the circuit to the pick-up electrode of the implantable device such that the stimulating electrode of the implantable device applies the second energy to the target nerve.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, transcutaneously via a first conductor of a power adapter, at least a portion of a first energy transmitted by an electrical pulse generator outside of the body, the power adapter and an implantable device coupled to the power adapter being implanted in a body, the power adapter having a housing forming the first conductor, a second conductor disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the implantable device, and a sleeve disposed about a portion of the housing to electrically insulate the second conductor from the first energy outside of the sleeve, the first energy including a combination of low frequency energy bursts and high frequency energy bursts, the low frequency energy bursts resulting in a local response within a region in the body between the electrical pulse generator and the power adapter;
- converting, via a circuit disposed in the housing, the high frequency energy bursts of the first energy to a second energy different from the first energy;
- and
- transferring the second energy from the second conductor to the implantable device such that a stimulating electrode of the implantable device applies the second energy to a target nerve internal to the body and separate from the region in the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.