Portable power charging of implantable medical devices

Abstract

An implantable medical device, comprising an implantable component having a rechargeable power supply and an external wireless charger. The wireless charger has a rechargeable power supply, and an inductive coil configured to transcutaneously transfer power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply, and configured to detect and receive, via the inductive coil, power from an auxiliary charger for recharging of the charger power supply.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sound processor, comprising:
 a battery;   an inductive coil; and   a circuit configured to route power from the battery to the inductive coil for transcutaneous transfer of the power to an implantable component, and to route power received via the inductive coil from an auxiliary power source to the battery to recharge the battery,   wherein the sound processor is configured to detect the presence of an inductive field generated by the auxiliary power source, and, in response to the detection, automatically route power from the inductive coil to the battery.   
     
     
         2 . The sound processor of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a routing system, driver, and a battery recharger, and wherein the routing system is connected among the driver, the inductive coil, and the battery recharger. 
     
     
         3 . The sound processor of  claim 1 , wherein the sound processor is further configured to transcutaneously transmit data from the sound processor to the implantable component via the inductive coil. 
     
     
         4 . The sound processor of  claim 1 , further comprising a power detector connected to the inductive coil, wherein the power detector is configured to detect the presence of the inductive field generated by the auxiliary power source. 
     
     
         5 . The sound processor of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control the circuit so as to enable routing of power from the battery to the inductive coil only during selected time periods. 
     
     
         6 . A sound processor, comprising:
 an inductive coil;   a battery; and   a circuit connecting the battery to the inductive coil, wherein the circuit is configured to drive the inductive coil with power received from the battery, and to route power received at the inductive coil to the battery.   
     
     
         7 . The sound processor of  claim 6 , wherein the circuit comprises a routing system, a driver, and a battery recharger, wherein the routing system is connected among the driver, the inductive coil, and the battery recharger. 
     
     
         8 . The sound processor of  claim 6 , wherein the inductive coil is further configured to transcutaneously transmit data from the sound processor to an implantable component. 
     
     
         9 . The sound processor of  claim 6 , further comprising an external accessory, wherein the inductive coil is configured to form a bidirectional data link with the external accessory. 
     
     
         10 . The sound processor of  claim 6 , wherein the circuit enables the inductive coil to transcutaneously transfer power from the battery to an implantable component and to transfer power received from an auxiliary power source to the battery. 
     
     
         11 . The sound processor of  claim 10 , wherein the circuit includes a controller configured to enable the transcutaneously transfer of power from the battery to the implantable component via the inductive coil for a first time period, and to disable the transcutaneously transfer of power from the battery to the implantable component via the inductive coil for a second time period. 
     
     
         12 . The sound processor of  claim 11 , wherein the circuit is configured to monitor for the presence of the auxiliary power source during the second time period. 
     
     
         13 . The sound processor of  claim 12 , wherein when the circuit detects the presence of the auxiliary power source, the inductive coil is configured to receive power from the auxiliary power source and the circuit is configured to enable the transfer of power received from the auxiliary power source to the battery. 
     
     
         14 . The sound processor of  claim 13 , wherein before enabling the transfer of power received from the auxiliary power source to the battery, the circuit is configured to perform a check to determine if the battery can accept additional power. 
     
     
         15 . The sound processor of  claim 6 , wherein the sound processor is a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) device. 
     
     
         16 . The sound processor of  claim 6 , wherein the sound processor is a body worn device. 
     
     
         17 . A sound processor, comprising:
 a battery;   an inductive coil; and   a circuit connected between the battery and the inductive coil, wherein the circuit includes a controller configured to enable transcutaneous transfer of power from the battery to an implantable component via the inductive coil during a first time period, and to disable the transcutaneous transfer of power from the battery to the implantable component via the inductive coil during a second time period.   
     
     
         18 . The sound processor of  claim 17 , wherein the circuit is configured to drive the inductive coil so as to transmit the power to the implantable component, and wherein the circuit is configured to detect and receive, via the inductive coil, power from an auxiliary power source for recharging of the battery. 
     
     
         19 . The sound processor of  claim 18 , wherein the circuit comprises a power detector connected to the inductive coil, wherein the power detector is configured to detect the presence of an inductive field generated by the auxiliary power source. 
     
     
         20 . The sound processor of  claim 18 , wherein the power detector is configured to periodically determine whether the auxiliary power source is capable of supplying power sufficient to recharge the battery. 
     
     
         21 . The sound processor of  claim 18 , wherein in response to detecting the presence of the inductive field generated by the auxiliary power source, the circuit is automatically arranged to route power from the inductive coil to the battery. 
     
     
         22 . The sound processor of  claim 18 , wherein when the circuit detects the presence of the auxiliary power source, the inductive coil is configured to receive power from the auxiliary power source and the circuit is configured to enable the transfer of power received from the auxiliary power source to the battery. 
     
     
         23 . The sound processor of  claim 22 , wherein before enabling the transfer of power received from the auxiliary power source to the battery, the circuit is configured to perform a check to determine if the battery can accept additional power. 
     
     
         24 . The sound processor of  claim 17 , wherein the circuit is further configured to transcutaneously transfer of data from the sound processor to the implantable component via the inductive coil during the second time period.