# US 9,872,997 B2 · Spinal cord stimulator system

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- Number: US 9,872,997 B2
- Document ID: US9872997B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/642,810
- Filed: 2015-03-10
- Published: 2015-06-25
- Granted: 2018-01-23
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15
- Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc
- Inventors: Raghavendra Angara; Saif Khalil; Miles Curtis; Christopher Biele; Daniel Fellmeth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872997B2

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0244: {Optimization}
- A61N 1/36071: {Pain}
- A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source}
- G06Q 30/0254: {based on statistics}
- G06Q 30/0277: {Online advertisement}
- H02J 50/12: of the resonant type
- H02J 50/70: involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
- H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
- A61N 1/025: {Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors}
- A61N 1/0553: {Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy}
- A61N 1/36125: {Details of circuitry or electric components}
- A61N 1/36142: {for improving safety}
- A61N 1/37229: {Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna}
- A61N 1/37235: {Aspects of the external programmer}
- A61N 1/3752: {Details of casing-lead connections}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

## Abstract

A wireless charger system for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) implanted in a human body is provided. A charging coil in the charger is wirelessly coupled to a receiving coil of the IPG to charge the rechargeable battery. An end-of-charge (EOC) circuit continuously monitors the reflected impedance from a reflected impedance sensor and determines the end of charge when a predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance corresponding to an EOC signal from the IPG is received. Advantageously, receiving the EOC signal through the charging coil eliminates the need to provide a separate communication circuit in the IPG that communicates with the charger.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wireless charger system for inductively charging a rechargeable battery of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) implanted in a human body, the wireless charger system comprising:
a charging coil adapted to be wirelessly coupled to a receiving coil of the IPG to charge the rechargeable battery, wherein the charging coil is backed by a ferrite plate;
a reflected impedance sensor coupled to the charging coil to detect a reflected impedance of the charging coil;
an end-of-charge (EOC) circuit coupled to the reflected impedance sensor, the EOC circuit adapted to continuously monitor the reflected impedance from the reflected impedance sensor and determine the end of charge when a predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance corresponding to an EOC signal from the IPG is received; and
a feedback closed loop control configured to reduce losses in the wireless charger system during recharging.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wireless charger system of claim 1, further comprising the IPG, wherein the IPG includes an EOC switch adapted to electrically short the receiving coil to ground in a selected pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The wireless charger system of claim 2, wherein the IPG further comprises a processor coupled to the switch and adapted to activate the EOC switch a selected number of times.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The wireless charger system of claim 2, wherein the IPG further comprises a processor coupled to the switch and adapted to activate the EOC switch at least three times.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wireless charger system of claim 1, further comprising the IPG, wherein the IPG includes a processor adapted to vary the current being received by the receiving coil in a selected pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of the reflected impedance.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wireless charger system of claim 1, further comprising a vibrator and the EOC circuit controls the vibrator to output a tactile signal indicative of the EOC of the IPG when the EOC has been determined.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wireless charger system of claim 1, further comprising a vibrator and a speaker, wherein the EOC circuit controls the vibrator and the speaker to output tactile and audible signals indicative of the EOC of the IPG when the EOC has been determined.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The wireless charger system of claim 1, wherein when the EOC has been determined, the EOC circuit turns off current to the charging coil.