US 12,594,428 B2 · Haptics-based recharge alignment feedback for implantable stimulator

Abstract

Techniques to provide haptic feedback to a patient to help the patient align a medical device to a location on their anatomy. In some examples, the patient may align a recharging device to a medical device that is implanted at the location on their anatomy. In some examples, the electrical stimulation can be delivered in such a way that the patient may or may not be able to feel the electrical stimulation, e.g., experience a paresthesia sensation. The system of this disclosure may intentionally adjust the stimulation intensity to provide patient feedback for alignment, such as alignment of the recharging device with the implanted device. Alignment of the recharging device with the implanted device may improve energy transfer, which may, for example, recharge the implanted device more efficiently.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An implantable medical device, the device comprising:

a memory;
power receiving circuitry configured to receive wireless electrical energy;
stimulation generation circuitry configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the patient via a plurality of electrodes;
and
processing circuitry operably coupled to the memory, the processing circuitry configured to:
control the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver the electrical stimulation therapy to a patient;
receive an indication of a quality of alignment with a power transmitting device;
and
responsive to the indication of the quality of alignment, cause the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver haptic stimulation representative of the quality of alignment.

6 more elements

A system comprising:

a power transmitting device configured to wirelessly transfer electrical energy, the power transmitting device comprising:
power transmission circuitry configured to wirelessly output the electrical energy via the power transmitting antenna;
and
first processing circuitry, the processing circuitry configured to control the power transmission circuitry;
and
an implantable medical device (IMD) the IMD comprising:
power receiving circuitry, configured to receive at least a portion of wireless electrical energy from the power transmitting device;
stimulation generation circuitry configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient via a plurality of electrodes;
and
second processing circuitry, the second processing circuitry configured to:
control the stimulation generation circuitry;
receive an indication of a quality of alignment with the power transmitting antenna;
and
responsive to receiving the indication of the quality of alignment, cause the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver haptic stimulation representative of the quality of alignment.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Haptics-based recharge alignment feedback for implantable stimulator

Life of this patent

Haptics-based recharge alignment feedback for implantable stimulator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20