System and method for aligning a charger for an implanted medical device

A system for facilitating alignment between an external charging device and an implantable medical device in a patient, the system comprising:

• an external charging device having a charging coil disposed within a housing and configured to magnetically couple with a corresponding receiving coil of the implantable medical device, wherein the external charging device includes an antenna configured for communicating with one or more external devices, and a processor configured to control charging with the charging coil and monitor one or more charging parameters during charging, wherein the external charging device comprises one or more indicators that are configured to indicate a first-order alignment of the external charging device with the implantable medical device and effect charging upon detection of the first-order alignment;
• and a portable user device, the portable user device having a housing, an antenna for communicating with at least one of the external charging device and the implantable medical device, a user interface, and a processor operably coupled to the antenna, the user interface and a memory having stored thereon a software application configured for at least one of training and troubleshooting of charging, wherein the software application includes executable instructions configured to:
• establish wireless communication with the external charging device;
• receive a wireless communication of the one or more charging parameters or an associated charging metric during charging;
• and display a charging efficiency indicator in real-time that corresponds to a fine-tuned alignment between the external charging device and the implantable medical device, wherein the charging efficiency indicator is based on the one or more charging parameters or the associated charging metric.