Using telemetry coupling as a surrogate for recharger coupling

For use by a recharging unit that is adapted to recharge a power source of an Implantable Medical Devices (IMD), a storage device configured to store programmed instructions to cause a control circuit of the recharging unit to perform a method, comprising:

• transmitting a telemetry signal between the IMD and the recharging unit;
• obtaining an indication of signal strength of the telemetry signal;
• and
• determining, based the indication of signal strength, whether to initiate a recharge session between the recharging unit and the IMD;
• wherein transmitting at telemetry signal between the IMD and the recharging unit comprises receiving a telemetry signal by the recharging unit and wherein obtaining the indication of signal strength comprises obtaining a signal strength of the telemetry signal received by the recharging unit.

A system, comprising:

• a coil of a recharging unit configured to receive a telemetry signal from an Implantable Medical Device (IMD);
• a communication circuit configured to provide an indication of a strength of the telemetry signal received by the coil;
• and
• a control circuit configured to determine, based on the indication of signal strength, whether recharge coupling efficiency is adequate to initiate a recharge session between the recharging unit and the IMD.

A system, comprising:

• an external coil configured to exchange a telemetry signal with an internal coil of an Implantable Medical Device (IMD);
• a communication circuit configured to provide an indication of signal strength of the exchanged telemetry signal;
• and
• a control circuit configured to determine based on the indication of signal strength whether recharge coupling efficiency is adequate.