# US 12,015,281 B2 · Integrity monitoring for a transcutaneous energy system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,281 B2 - Document ID: US12015281B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/111,590 - Filed: 2020-12-04 - Published: 2021-07-22 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-17 - Assignees: Medtronic, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic, Inc. - Inventors: Eric A. Schilling; David J. Peichel; Jonathan P. Roberts; Joel Artmann; Michael Reinert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015281B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source} - H02J 50/80: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices - A61M 60/178: drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices - A61M 60/216: including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller - A61M 60/875: specially adapted for optimising alignment of external and implantable coils - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment - A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)} - A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/58: Means for facilitating use, e.g. by people with impaired vision - H02J 2105/46: Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract According to one or more embodiments, a system is provided. The system includes a power device implantable within a patient for powering an implantable medical device. The power device includes a first coil configured to receive wireless power signals for powering the implantable medical device and processing circuitry configured to determine at least one measurable electrical characteristic in a plurality of electrical pathways in the power device including an electrical pathway to the first coil, and detect reduced performance in receiving wireless power signals based at least in part on the determined at least one measurable electrical characteristic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a power device implantable within a patient for powering an implantable medical device, the power device including: a first coil configured to receive wireless power signals for powering the implantable medical device; and processing circuitry configured to: determine at least one measurable electrical characteristic in a plurality of electrical pathways in the power device including an electrical pathway to the first coil; and detect reduced performance in receiving wireless power signals based at least in part on the at least one measurable electrical characteristic; an external device positioned outside of the patient for providing power to the implantable medical device, the external device including: a second coil for transmitting the wireless power signals; and processing circuitry configured to: receive an indication of power received by the power device; and determine a wireless power transfer efficiency over a predetermined period of time based at least in part on the indication of the power received by the power device, wherein the wireless power transfer efficiency over the predetermined period of time corresponds to a long term moving average. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the long term moving average indicates whether performance is degrading due to at least one non-alignment factor between the first coil and the second coil. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one non-alignment factor includes at least one of increased fat thickness of a person in which the power device is implanted and degradation of at least one material characteristic of the power device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to trigger a notification if the long term moving average meets a predefined threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: receive an indication of the at least one measurable electrical characteristic; and determine the long term moving average based at least in part on the at least one measurable electrical characteristic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical pathways includes feedthrough cables, connectors and coil windings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to trigger a notification if any one of the at least one measurable electrical characteristic is below a predefined threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the power device is positioned at least one of proximate or within the implantable medical device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to trigger a notification if any one of the at least one measurable electrical characteristic is above a predefined threshold. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: determining at least one measurable electrical characteristic in a plurality of electrical pathways in a power device of a system, wherein the power device is implantable within a patient for powering an implantable medical device, wherein the power device includes a first coil configured to receive wireless power signals for powering the implantable medical device, and wherein the power device includes an electrical pathway of the plurality of electrical pathways to the first coil; detecting reduced performance in receiving wireless power signals based at least in part on the at least one measurable electrical characteristic; providing, by an external device positioned outside of the patient, power to the implantable medical device, wherein the system includes the external device, and wherein the external device includes a second coil for transmitting the wireless power signals; receiving an indication of power received by the power device; and determining a wireless power transfer efficiency over a predetermined period of time based at least in part on the indication of the power received by the power device, wherein the wireless power transfer efficiency over the predetermined period of time corresponds to a long term moving average. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the long term moving average indicates whether performance is degrading due to at least one non-alignment factor between the first coil and the second coil. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-alignment factor includes at least one of increased fat thickness of a person in which the power device is implanted and degradation of at least one material characteristic of the power device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising triggering a notification if the long term moving average meets a predefined threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving an indication of the at least one measurable electrical characteristic; and determining the long term moving average based at least in part on the at least one measurable electrical characteristic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of electrical pathways includes feedthrough cables, connectors and coil windings. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising triggering a notification if any one of the at least one measurable electrical characteristic is below a predefined threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the power device is positioned at least one of proximate or within the implantable medical device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising triggering a notification if any one of the at least one measurable electrical characteristic is above a predefined threshold.