Implantable device with improved battery recharging and powering configuration

A rechargeable battery that is subjected to externally induced ac magnetic fields, the battery comprising:

• a substantially hermetic housing;
• and
• first and second electrodes, housed within the hermetic housing, for storing and providing electrical power, wherein each of the electrodes is configured to prevent forming relatively large current loops thus limiting heat generating eddy currents resulting from the ac magnetic fields passing through the battery, and wherein each electrode comprises a relatively flat conductive plate lying substantially in a plane;
• and wherein each electrode has slits in the flat plate to reduce the area of closed loops in the plane of the plate.

A cochlear implant device, comprising:

• a relatively flat case;
• an electronic circuit that is housed within the case and that generates electrical pulses for stimulating cochlear nerves within a patient's cochlea;
• a coil that surrounds the case and lies substantially in a plane parallel with case's flat portion and that receives electrical power induced from external ac magnetic fields;
• and
• a battery that is housed within the case and that is coupled to the coil for battery recharging, the battery having first and second electrode plates, each electrode plate having a surface area that is relatively parallel to the plane of the flat case and that is configured to reduce the magnitude of eddy currents induced in the plate by the external ac magnetic fields during battery recharging.

A cochlear implant device, comprising:

• a case;
• an implant lead that extends from the case and which is adapted to be inserted into a patient's cochlea, the lead having a plurality of electrodes for stimulating the patient's cochlear nerves;
• and
• a battery housed within the case, the battery having first and second electrode plates, each electrode plate having a surface area with a plurality of slits that extend across a substantial portion of the plate's surface area to produce areas having a relatively long slender shape thereby reducing, over a plate without slits of a similar surface area, the magnitude of eddy currents induced in the plate by external ac magnetic fields.

An implant device, comprising:

• a relatively flat case;
• electrical circuitry that provides a desired stimulating/sensing function;
• recharging means for receiving electrical power induced from external ac magnetic fields;
• and
• a battery that is housed within the case and that is coupled to the recharging means and the electrical circuitry, the battery providing operating power to the electrical circuitry and having first and second electrode plates that are configured to reduce, in comparison with a battery formed of flat parallel electrode plates, the magnitude of eddy currents induced in the battery electrodes by external ac magnetic fields during battery recharging, wherein each battery electrode plate is relatively flat and has a plurality of slits that extend across a substantial portion of the electrode plate to produce regions of the electrode plate having a relatively long slender shape.

An implant system, comprising:

• a first case;
• electrical circuitry housed within the first case that provides a desired stimulating/sensing function;
• a second case;
• recharging circuitry that receives electrical power induced from external ac magnetic fields;
• means for electrically coupling the first and second cases together;
• and
• a rechargeable power source housed within the second case that is coupled to the recharging means and the electrical circuitry, the power source providing operating power to the electrical circuitry.

A rechargeable battery that is subjected to externally induced ac magnetic fields, the battery comprising:

• a substantially hermetic housing;
• and
• first and second electrodes, housed within the hermetic housing, for storing and providing electrical power, wherein the first and second electrodes are each configured to prevent forming relatively large current loops, thus limiting heat generating eddy currents resulting from the ac magnetic fields passing through the battery,
• wherein the first and second electrodes comprise conductive ribbons that are coiled into a spiral without forming a closed loop along the spiral.

A rechargeable battery that is subjected to externally induced ac magnetic fields, the battery comprising:

• a substantially hermetic housing;
• and
• first and second electrodes, housed within the hermetic housing, for storing and providing electrical power, wherein the first and second electrodes are each configured to prevent forming relatively large current loops, thus limiting heat generating eddy currents resulting from the ac magnetic fields passing through the battery,
• wherein the first electrode comprises four ribbons connected in parallel and the second electrode comprises four ribbons connected in parallel, wherein the four first electrode ribbons and the four second electrode ribbons are wrapped into a coiled spiral without forming a closed loop along the spiral.

A rechargeable battery that is subjected to externally induced ac magnetic fields, the battery comprising:

• a substantially hermetic housing;
• and
• first and second electrodes, housed within the hermetic housing, for storing and providing electrical power, wherein the first and second electrodes are each configured to prevent forming relatively large current loops, thus limiting heat generating eddy currents resulting from the ac magnetic fields passing through the battery;
• and
• a circuit board housed within the hermetic housing that is laid out without forming relatively large current loops, thus limiting heat-generating eddy currents.

An implant device, comprising:

• a relatively flat case;
• electrical circuitry that provides a desired stimulating/sensing function;
• recharging means for receiving electrical power induced from external ac magnetic fields;
• and
• a battery that is housed within the case and that is coupled to the recharging means and the electrical circuitry, the battery providing operating power to the electrical circuitry and having first and second electrode plates that are configured to reduce, in comparison with a battery formed of flat parallel electrode plates, the magnitude of eddy currents induced in the battery electrodes by external ac magnetic fields during battery recharging, wherein the first and second electrode plates comprise long thin electrodes that are coiled in a spiral.

An electrical stimulation/sensing system comprising:

• electrical circuitry that provides a desired stimulating/sensing function for medical purposes;
• a power source that provides operating power for the electrical circuitry;
• two implantable cases, a first case and a second case;
• the electrical circuitry that provides the desired stimulating/sensing function being housed in the first case;
• the power source being housed within the second case;
• and
• means for electrically coupling the first and second cases together;
• whereby the first case may be implanted in one location within body tissue, and the second case may be implanted in another location within body tissue, and power from the power source may be coupled into the electrical circuitry within the first case so that the electrical circuitry may carry out its intended stimulating/sensing function.

An electrical stimulation/sensing system comprising:

• electrical circuitry that provides a desired stimulating/sensing function for medical purposes;
• a power source that provides operating power for the electrical circuitry;
• two hermetically-sealed implantable cases, a first case and a second case;
• the electrical circuitry that provides the desired stimulating/sensing function being housed in the first case;
• the power source being housed within the second case;
• and
• a cable that electrically connects the electrical circuitry within the first case with the power source within the second case;
• whereby the first case may be implanted in one location within body tissue, and the second case may be implanted in another location within body tissue, and power from the power source may be coupled into the electrical circuitry within the first case so that the electrical circuitry may carry out its intended stimulating/sensing function.