External energy transfer system for an implantable medical device and method therefor

A method of providing therapeutic output to a patient using an implantable medical device, comprising the steps of:

• operatively coupling via telemetry an external patient control unit with said implantable medical device allowing said patient to control said therapeutic output of said implantable medical device;
• and
• operatively coupling an external energy transfer unit to said implantable medical device to transcutaneously transfer energy to said implantable medical device;
• said external patient control unit having a first user interface operable by said patient having patient controls and display icons indicative of a status of operation of said patient control unit;
• said energy transfer unit having a second user interface that is separate from the first user interface and that is operable by said patient having patient controls and display icons indicative of a status of operation of said energy transfer unit;
• at least some of said patient controls and said display icons of said energy transfer unit being common with at least some of said patient controls and said display icons of said patient control unit.

An implantable medical device system, comprising:

• an implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient;
• and
• an external energy transfer unit which can be operatively coupled to transcutaneously transfer energy to said implantable medical device, the external energy transfer unit including a housing and electronics within the housing that provides oscillating current to provide the energy being transferred to said implantable medical device;
• said energy transfer unit being operable by said patient with at least one and less than three operative controls to control energy transfer from said external energy transfer unit to said implantable medical device, said energy transfer unit including the controls on the housing.

An external energy transfer unit adapted to transcutaneously transfer energy to an implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, comprising:

• a housing;
• energy transfer circuitry including electronics within the housing that provides oscillating current to provide the energy being transcutaneously transferred to said implantable medical device;
• and
• at least one and less than three operative controls on the housing to control energy transfer from said external energy transfer unit to said implantable medical device.

An implantable medical device system, comprising:

• an implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, said implantable medical device capable of receiving inductively coupled energy with a secondary coil and being capable of being transcutaneously controlled using an internal telemetry coil;
• and
• an external antenna providing a structure having a primary coil adapted to inductively transfer energy to said secondary coil of said implantable medical device when said external antenna is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil and having an external telemetry coil adapted to inductively transfer data to said internal telemetry coil when said external antenna is externally placed in proximity of said internal telemetry coil;
• an external energy transfer unit adapted to be operatively coupled by a cord to said external antenna, said external energy transfer unit driving said primary coil to inductively transfer energy to said implantable medical device and adapted to at least partially control said therapeutic output of said implantable medical device by communicating through said external telemetry coil.

An external energy transfer system adapted to transcutaneously transfer energy to an implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output to a patient, said implantable medical device capable of receiving inductively coupled energy with a secondary coil and being capable of being transcutaneously controlled using an internal telemetry coil, comprising:

• an external antenna providing a structure having a primary coil adapted to inductively transfer energy to said secondary coil of said implantable medical device when said external antenna is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil and having an external telemetry coil adapted to inductively transfer data to said internal telemetry coil when said external antenna is externally placed in proximity of said internal telemetry coil;
• and
• an external energy transfer unit adapted to be operatively coupled by a cord to said external antenna, said external energy transfer unit driving said primary coil to inductively transfer energy to said implantable medical device and adapted to at least partially control said therapeutic output of said implantable medical device by communicating through said external telemetry coil;
• said energy transfer unit having an external telemetry coil allowing said energy transfer unit to communicate with said implantable medical device through said internal telemetry coil in order to at least partially control said therapeutic output of said implantable medical device.

A method of controlling an implantable medical device for providing a therapeutic output, said implantable medical device capable of receiving inductively coupled energy with a secondary coil and being capable of being transcutaneously controlled using an internal telemetry coil, comprising the steps of:

• inductively transferring energy to said secondary coil with a primary coil of an external antenna that provides a structure having the primary coil when said external antenna is externally placed in proximity of said secondary coil;
• driving said primary coil with an external energy transfer unit operatively coupled by a cord to said external antenna to inductively transfer energy to said implantable medical device;
• and
• communicating with an external telemetry coil of said energy transfer unit, where the structure of the external antenna includes the external telemetry coil, with said implantable medical device through said internal telemetry coil in order to at least partially control said therapeutic output of said implantable medical device.