Thermal management for implantable wireless power transfer systems

A method of reducing heat transferred to tissue by an implanted wireless power receiver, comprising the steps of:

• implanting a wireless power receiver in a patient, the wireless power receiver comprising an implantable housing, a receiver coil supported by the implantable housing, and electronics disposed within the implantable housing and coupled to the receiver coil, the electronics configured to control wireless power transfer from an external power transmitter to the receiver;
• receiving wireless power with the wireless power receiver;
• and
• conducting heat generated by the electronics from a central portion of the wireless power receiver towards edges of the wireless power receiver with only one insulating layer disposed on an interior surface of the implantable housing and comprising a thermal layer formed of a first material and a central portion formed of a second material, the thermal layer and central portion being positioned in the same plane.

A power receiver of a wireless power transfer system, comprising:

• an implantable housing;
• a receiver coil supported by the implantable housing;
• electronics disposed within the implantable housing and couple to the receiver coil, the electronics configured to control wireless power transfer from an external power transmitter to the receiver coil;
• and
• only one insulating layer disposed on an interior surface of the implantable housing and comprising a thermal layer formed of a first material and a central portion formed of a second material, the thermal layer and central portion being positioned in the same plane, the only one insulating layer configured to dissipate heat generated by the electronics to promote heat spreading across the only one insulating layer.