Circuitry for Charging a Battery in an Implantable Medical Device in Accordance with Historical Parameters Impacting Battery Capacity

Abstract

An algorithm programmed into the control circuitry of a rechargeable-battery Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed that can adjust the charging current (Ibat) provided to the rechargeable battery over time (e.g., the life of the IMD) in accordance with one or more of the parameters having an effect on rechargeable battery capacity, such as number of charging cycles, charging current, discharge depth, load current, and battery calendar age. The algorithm consults such parameters as stored over the history of the operation of the IMD in a parameter log, and in conjunction with a battery capacity database reflective of the effect of these parameters on battery capacity, estimates a change in the capacity of the battery, and adjust the charging current in one or both of trickle and active charging paths to slow the loss of battery capacity and extend the life of the IMD.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.