# US 2018/0021587 A1 · Implantable pulse generator systems and methods for providing functional and/or therapeutic stimulation of muscles and/or nerves and/or central nervous system tissue

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- Number: US 2018/0021587 A1
- Document ID: US20180021587A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/670,712
- Filed: 2017-08-07
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2004-06-10
- Assignees: Medtronic Urinary Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: Medtronic Urinary Solutions, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert B. Strother; Geoffrey B. Thrope; Danny R. Pack
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021587A1

## CPC

- A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source}
- A61N 1/0551: {Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes}
- A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control}
- A61N 1/3605: {Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system}
- A61N 1/36071: {Pain}
- A61N 1/37229: {Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna}
- A61N 1/3754: {Feedthroughs}
- A61N 1/3758: {Packaging of the components within the casing}
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- A61N 1/05: for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence)
- A61N 1/37512: {Pacemakers}
- A61N 1/37514: {Brain implants}
- 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)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

Improved assemblies, systems, and methods provide a stimulation system for prosthetic or therapeutic stimulation of muscles, nerves, or central nervous system tissue, or any combination. The stimulation system includes an implantable pulse generator and a lead sized and configured to be implanted subcutaneously in a tissue region. An external controller includes circuitry adapted for wireless telemetry and a charging coil for generating the radio frequency magnetic field to transcutaneously recharge a rechargeable battery in the pulse generator. Using wireless telemetry, the pulse generator is adapted to transmit status information back to the external controller to allow the external controller to automatically adjust up or down the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field and/or to instruct a user to reposition the charging coil, the status information adapted to allow optimal recharging of the pulse generator rechargeable battery.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising
an implantable electrical stimulation generator comprising:
a housing,
first circuitry carried within the housing and configured for wireless telemetry using at least one of UHF signals and VHF signals,
an antenna coupled to the first circuitry and configured to at least one of receive or transmit the at least one of UHF signals and VHF signals of the wireless telemetry,
a rechargeable battery carried within the housing,
a power receiving coil carried within the housing, the power receiving coil configured to transcutaneously receive an externally generated radio frequency magnetic field to recharge the rechargeable battery;
an external controller including second circuitry; and
a charging coil for generating the radio frequency magnetic field to transcutaneously recharge the rechargeable battery, and
wherein during a battery recharge period, and using wireless telemetry, the implantable electrical stimulation generator is configured to transmit status information back to the external controller to allow the external controller to, based on the transmitted status information, automatically adjust a magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field to control a temperature of the system.

### Claim at position 2

2-41. (canceled)

### Claim 42 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller is configured to, based on the transmitted status information, automatically adjust the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field to limit a temperature rise in the implantable electrical stimulation generator during the battery recharge period.

### Claim 43 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller is configured, based on the transmitted status information, automatically adjust the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field to limit a temperature rise of an outer surface of the implantable electrical stimulation generator during the battery recharge period.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The system of claim 43, wherein the external controller is configured, based on the transmitted status information, automatically adjust the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field to limit the temperature rise of the outer surface of the implantable electrical stimulation generator during the battery recharge period to two degrees Celsius or less.

### Claim 45 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein, during the battery recharge period, the charging coil maintains a temperature at or below about 41 degrees Celsius.

### Claim 46 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller is configured to, based on the transmitted status information, automatically increase the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field during the battery recharge period.

### Claim 47 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller is configured to, based on the transmitted status information, automatically decrease the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field during the battery recharge period.

### Claim 48 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the transcutaneously applied radio frequency magnetic field is configured to fully recharge the rechargeable battery in a time period of not more than six hour.

### Claim 49 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller is configured to generate feedback to a user based on the transmitted status information.

### Claim 50 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the external controller is configured to generate instructions to a user to reposition the charging coil based on the transmitted status information.

### Claim 51 (depends on 50)

The system of claim 50, wherein the instructions to the user comprises a visual instruction.

### Claim 52 (depends on 50)

The system of claim 50, wherein the instructions to the user comprises an audio instruction.

### Claim 53 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the charging coil is coupled to the external controller via at least a cable.

### Claim 54 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the status information includes an indication of the magnitude of power recovered by the receive coil.

### Claim 55 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the status information includes an indication of a magnitude of a voltage of the rechargeable battery.

### Claim 56 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the status information includes an indication of a magnitude of a DC voltage recovered from the radio frequency magnetic field.

### Claim 57 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery includes a lithium ion battery.

### Claim 58 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is carried within the housing of the implantable electrical stimulation generator.