Passive charge of implantable medical device utilizing external power source and method

An external power source for an implantable medical device implantable in a patient, said implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry, comprising:

• a power source;
• a modulation circuit operatively coupled to said power source;
• an article into which said patient may come into proximity;
• at least one primary coil operatively coupled to said modulation circuit and physically associated with said article;
• said modulation circuit driving at least one of said at least one primary coil;
• and
• a sensor coupled to said modulation circuit and adapted to sense proximity of said patient to said article;
• wherein said external power source automatically turns on and initiates a charging process without overt action by said patient in response to sensing proximity of said patient to said article;
• wherein said modulation circuit commences operation to drive at least one of said at least one primary coil when said sensor senses proximity of said patient to said article;
• and
• wherein said implantable medical device has a rechargeable power source operatively coupled to said therapeutic componentry wherein said external power source recharges said rechargeable power through said secondary coil when driven by at least one of said at least one primary coil.

A method of externally powering an implantable medical device implantable in a patient, said implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry, comprising the steps of:

• physically associating at least one primary coil operatively with an article into which said patient may come into proximity;
• sensing proximity of said patient to said article;
• and
• turning on an external power source and initiating a charging process in response to said sensing step without overt action by said patient;
• modulating at least one of said at least one primary coil with said external power source;
• automatically commencing operation to drive at least one of said at least one primary coil when said sensing step senses proximity of said patient to said article.

A system, comprising:

• an implantable medical device implantable in a patient, said implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry;
• and
• an external power source for said implantable medical device, comprising:
• a power source;
• a modulation circuit operatively coupled to said power source;
• an article into which said patient may come into proximity;
• at least one primary coil operatively coupled to said modulation circuit and physically associated with said article;
• said modulation circuit driving at least one of said at least one primary coil;
• and
• a sensor coupled to said modulation circuit and adapted to sense proximity of said patient to said article;
• wherein said external power source automatically turns on and initiates a charging process without overt action by said patient;
• wherein said modulation circuit automatically commences operation to drive at least one of said at least one primary coil when said sensor senses proximity of said patient to said article.

A system, comprising:

• an implantable medical device implantable in a patient, said implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry;
• and
• an external power source for said implantable medical device, comprising:
• a power source;
• a modulation circuit operatively coupled to said power source;
• an article into which said patient may come into proximity;
• at least one primary coil operatively coupled to said modulation circuit and physically associated with said article;
• said modulation circuit driving at least one of said at least one primary coil;
• and
• a sensor coupled to said modulation circuit and adapted to sense proximity of said patient to said article;
• wherein said external power source automatically turns on and initiates a charging process without overt action by said patient in response to sensing proximity of said patient to said article;
• wherein said modulation circuit commences operation to drive at least one of said at least one primary coil when said sensor senses proximity of said patient to said article;
• and
• wherein said implantable medical device has a rechargeable power source operatively coupled to said therapeutic componentry wherein said external power source recharges said rechargeable power through said secondary coil when driven by at least one of said at least one primary coil.