Transcutaneous power transmission and communication for implanted heart assist and other devices

A system, comprising:

• an implantable pump system adapted to assist blood flow in a patient comprising:
• a drive system and an energy transfer system to provide energy to the drive system, the energy transfer system comprising:
• an external system comprising a power source and an external coil adapted to be placed in the vicinity of a patient's skin, an external control system in operative connection with the power source and the external coil, an external communication system in operative connection with the external control system
• an internal system comprising an internal coil adapted to be implanted and to receive transcutaneous energy transmitted from the external coil, a capacitor system in operative connection with the internal coil to be charged therefrom, the capacitor system being adapted to store energy to provide operational power to the drive system, an internal control system in operative connection with the capacitor system and the internal coil and an internal communication system in operative connection with the internal control system, the internal system having at least a first state wherein energy transmission from the external coil to the capacitor system is required to provide operational power to the drive system,
• wherein the internal communication system is adapted to wirelessly transmit a signal to the external communication system to provide information related to a voltage of the capacitor system, and the external system is adapted to cause the power source to energize the external coil upon receiving information transmitted from the internal communication system indicating that the voltage is at least as low as a lower threshold value to charge the capacitor system and to de-energize the external coil upon receiving information transmitted from the internal communication system indicating that the voltage is at least as high as a higher threshold value, and wherein the external control system is adapted to cause the power source to energize the external coil after a determined maximum time period that the external coil has not been energized regardless of whether or not the voltage is at least as low the lower threshold value.

A system, comprising:

• an implantable pump system adapted to assist blood flow in a patient comprising:
• a drive system and an energy transfer system to provide energy to the drive system, the energy transfer system comprising:
• an external system comprising a power source and an external coil adapted to be placed in the vicinity of a patient's skin, an external control system in operative connection with the power source and the external coil, an external communication system in operative connection with the external control system
• an internal system comprising an internal coil adapted to be implanted and to receive transcutaneous energy transmitted from the external coil, a capacitor system in operative connection with the internal coil to be charged therefrom, the capacitor system being adapted to store energy to provide operational power to the drive system, an internal control system in operative connection with the capacitor system and the internal coil and an internal communication system in operative connection with the internal control system, the internal system having at least a first state wherein energy transmission from the external coil to the capacitor system is required to provide operational power to the drive system,
• wherein the internal communication system is adapted to wirelessly transmit a signal to the external communication system to provide information related to a voltage of the capacitor system, and the external system is adapted to cause the power source to energize the external coil upon receiving information transmitted from the internal communication system indicating that the voltage is at least as low as a lower threshold value to charge the capacitor system and to de-energize the external coil upon receiving information transmitted from the internal communication system indicating that the voltage is at least as high as a higher threshold value, and wherein the external control system is further adapted to cause the power source to energize the external coil in a manner to result in the voltage being greater than the higher threshold value in anticipation of a required high energy load.

A system, comprising:

• an implantable pump system adapted to assist blood flow in a patient comprising a drive system and an energy transfer system to provide energy to the drive system, the energy transfer system comprising:
• an external system comprising a power source and an external coil adapted to be placed in the vicinity of a patient's skin, an external control system in operative connection with the power source and the external coil, an external communication system in operative connection with the external control system
• an internal system comprising an internal coil adapted to be implanted and to receive transcutaneous energy transmitted from the external coil, a capacitor system in operative connection with the internal coil to be charged therefrom, the capacitor system being adapted to store energy to provide operational power to the drive system, an internal control system in operative connection with the capacitor system and the internal coil and an internal communication system in operative connection with the internal control system, the internal system having at least a first state wherein energy transmission from the external coil to the capacitor system is required to provide operational power to the drive system, the internal communication system being adapted to wirelessly transmit a signal to the external communication system to provide information related to a voltage of the capacitor system and the external system being adapted to cause the power source to energize the external coil upon receiving information transmitted from the internal communication system indicating that the voltage is at least as low as a lower threshold value to charge the capacitor system and to de-energize the external coil upon receiving information transmitted from the internal communication system indicating that the voltage is at least as high as a higher threshold value, wherein information signals are transmitted between the external coil and the internal coil within a frequency range different from a frequency range at which energy is transmitted from the external coil to the internal coil.

A system, comprising:

• an implantable pump system adapted to assist blood flow in a patient comprising a drive system and an energy transfer system to provide energy to the drive system, the energy transfer system comprising:
• an external system comprising a power source, an external coil adapted to be placed in the vicinity of a patient's skin and an external communication system, and
• an internal system comprising an internal coil adapted to be implanted and to receive transcutaneous energy transmitted from the external coil, a capacitor system in operative connection with the internal coil to be charged therefrom, the capacitor system being adapted to store energy to provide operational power to the drive system, and an internal communication system, the internal system having at least a first state wherein energy transmission from the external coil to the capacitor system is required to provide operational power to the drive system,
• wherein the external communication is adapted to transmit to or receive informational signals from the internal communication system via at least one of an external radio or the external coil, and the internal communication system is adapted to transmit information signals to or receive signals from the external communication system via at least one of an internal radio or the internal coil, and the internal communication system is adapted to transmit a periodic status signal to confirm operability of at least a portion of the internal system.

A system, comprising:

• an implantable pump system adapted to assist blood flow in a patient comprising:
• a drive system and an energy transfer system to provide energy to the drive system, the energy transfer system comprising:
• an external system comprising a power source, an external coil adapted to be placed in the vicinity of a patient's skin, an external control system in operative connection with the power source and the external coil, and an external communication system in operative connection with the external control system,
• an internal system comprising an internal coil adapted to be implanted and to receive transcutaneous energy transmitted from the external coil, a capacitor system in operative connection with the internal coil to be charged therefrom, the capacitor system being adapted to store energy to provide operational power to the drive system, an internal control system in operative connection with the first energy storage system and the internal coil, and an internal communication system in operative connection with the internal control system, the internal system having at least a first state wherein energy transmission from the external coil to the capacitor system is required to provide operational power to the drive system, and
• a monitoring system to measure a variable related to current draw by the external coil to provide information to the patient regarding position of the external coil relative to the internal coil based at least in part on the measured variable related to current draw on the external coil.

A system, comprising:

• an implantable pump system adapted to assist blood flow in a patient comprising:
• a drive system and an energy transfer system to provide energy to the drive system, the energy transfer system comprising:
• an external system comprising a power source and an external coil, the external coil being adapted to be placed in the vicinity of a patient's skin, and
• an internal system comprising an internal coil adapted to be implanted and to receive transcutaneous energy transmitted from the external coil, a capacitor system in operative connection with the internal coil to be charged therefrom, the capacitor system being adapted to store energy to provide operational power to the drive system, and a second energy storage system comprising an internal rechargeable battery which stores sufficient energy to provide operation power to the drive system without transfer of energy from the external coil, the internal system having at least a first state wherein energy transmission from the external coil to the capacitor system is required to provide operational power to the drive system and a second state wherein energy is drawn from the second energy storage system to provide energy to the drive system,
• wherein the internal system is placed in the second state upon instructional information being transmitted from the external control system via the external communication system to the internal control system via the internal communication system.