Extending service time of implantable cardioverter defibrillators

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), comprising:

• one or more capacitors;
• multiple batteries electrically coupled with the one or more capacitors;
• a capacitor charging circuit electrically coupled to the one or more capacitors and the multiple batteries;
• and
• a controller being configured to switchably select a battery as a source for electrical energy that charges the one or more capacitors, the selected battery being selected from among the multiple batteries.

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), comprising:

• one or more capacitors;
• a telemetry receiver configured to be in wireless communication with a telemetry transmitter located outside of a patient while the ICD is located inside of the patient;
• and
• a controller configured to perform a maintenance charge of the one or more capacitors in response to the telemetry receiver receiving from the telemetry transmitter a request that the controller perform the maintenance charge,
• the maintenance charge being such that electrical energy charges the one or more capacitors during the maintenance charge.

A method of operating an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), comprising:

• transmitting a signal from a telemetry transmitter located outside of a patient to the ICD while the ICD is located inside of the patient, the signal causing the ICD to perform a maintenance charge of one or more capacitors included in the ICD;
• transmitting electrical energy from a wireless power transfer transmitter to a wireless power transfer receiver included in the ICD while the ICD is located inside of the patient, the ICD employing the electrical energy received from the wireless power transfer transmitter to recharge a secondary battery included in the ICD;
• and
• the signal and the electrical energy being transmitted during the same visit of the patient to a treatment clinic.