Apparatus and Methods for Charging an Implanted Medical Device Power Source

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for charging an implanted medical device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a harness configured to be positioned around a user's waist, wherein the harness comprises:   a first portion that is configured to carry a remote housing having a power supply; and   a second portion that is configured to carry a coil, wherein the coil is connected to the housing by a cable and is configured to generate a charging field to transfer energy from the power supply to a power source in an implantable medical device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the remote housing comprises a user interface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises at least one button. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the coil is positioned within a coil housing. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the coil housing comprises one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the harness is constructed from a fabric material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the fabric material is an elastomeric fabric material. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the harness comprises a first end and a second end that are attachable to hold the harness around the user's waist. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first end comprises a hook fastener and the second end comprises a loop fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is wider than the first portion. 
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 a charger configured to provide power to an implantable medical device, comprising:
 a remote housing having a power supply; 
 a coil housing having a coil that is configured to generate a charging field that transfers power from the power supply to the implantable medical device; and 
 a cable configured to connect the remote housing to the coil housing; and 
   a harness configured to be positioned around a user's waist, comprising:
 a first portion that is configured to carry the remote housing; and 
 a second portion that is configured to carry the coil housing. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote housing further comprises a user interface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the coil housing further comprises one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote housing and the cable comprise first mating connectors that allow the cable and the coil housing to be disconnected from the remote housing. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the coil housing and the cable comprise second mating connectors that allow the cable to be disconnected from both the coil housing and the remote housing. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the harness is constructed from a fabric material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fabric material is an elastomeric fabric material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the harness comprises a first end and a second end that are attachable to hold the harness around the user's waist. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first end comprises a hook fastener and the second end comprises a loop fastener.