Abstract: A method and apparatus related to detecting the presence of a power transfer coil implanted in a patient are disclosed. According to the aspect, an external device of a medical implant system is provided, the external device having an external coil and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to monitor a resonance frequency associated with the external coil. When the resonance frequency changes as a distance between the external coil and an expected location of an internal coil, then the processing circuitry is configured to conclude that the internal coil has been detected. When the resonance frequency ramps up to a steady state value at a rate that falls below a rate threshold, then the processing circuitry is configured to conclude that the internal coil is connected to an internal load.

Abstract: A method of managing multiple power sources for an implantable blood pump includes operating the implantable blood pump with both power from an internal battery, the internal battery being disposed within an implantable controller and in communication with the implantable blood pump, and with transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS) power in communication with the implantable blood pump, if TETS power is available.

Abstract: In an implanted medical device system, an internal controller, external power transmitter and methods for regulation of TETS power for an implanted medical device system are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in an external power transmitter of an implanted medical device system includes determining a current in an external coil of the external power transmitter, multiplying the determined current by a supply voltage to determine a power delivered to the external coil, and controlling the power delivered to the external coil by adjusting the current in the external coil.

Abstract: In an implanted medical device system, an internal controller, external power transmitter and methods for monitoring and dynamically managing power in an implanted medical device system are disclosed. According to one aspect, an internal controller is configured to provide power to a motor of an implanted medical device, the power being drawn from at least one of an internal battery and an internal coil, the at least one of the internal battery and the internal coil providing a supplied voltage. The internal controller includes processing circuitry configured to switch to one of the internal battery, the internal coil and a combination of the internal battery and the internal coil, based on a comparison of the supplied voltage to a threshold.

Abstract: An internal controller and an external power transmitter of an implanted medical device system and method therefore are provided. According to one aspect, an external power transmitter as part of a implanted medical device system includes processing circuitry configured to detect a shunting condition of an internal coil of the implanted medical device system, and responsive to detecting a shunting condition, reduce a magnitude of power transmitted to the internal coil.

Abstract: An internal coil interface implantable within the body of a patient and configured to modulate a load on an internal coil, and a method therefore are provided. According to one aspect, processing circuitry of the internal coil interface is configured to predict a time of a first voltage level crossing by a voltage at a terminal of the internal coil for each of a plurality of successive windows each time the capacitance is switched into the modulated load circuit or each time the capacitance is switched out of the modulated load circuit. The process is also configured to adjust the predictions based on whether a previous prediction of a time of a first voltage level crossing for a window was later or earlier than a time at which the first voltage level crossing actually occurred.

Abstract: A method of estimating power dissipated by a foreign metallic object in a transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS) includes estimating power loss between an external coil of the TETS and an implanted coil of the TETS using a transfer function, the transfer function including inputs, the inputs including: a power supplied to the external coil, a power received by the implanted coil, a measured current within the external coil, and a carrier frequency between the external coil and the implanted coil and generating an alert if the estimated power loss between the external coil and the implanted coil exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of managing multiple power sources for an implantable blood pump includes operating the implantable blood pump with both power from an internal battery, the internal battery being disposed within an implantable controller and in communication with the implantable blood pump, and with transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS) power in communication with the implantable blood pump, if TETS power is available.

Abstract: A digitally timed complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) rectifier for wireless power transfer in an implanted medical device is provided. According to one aspect, a voltage rectification circuit for a medical device having an internal coil and internal circuitry includes a voltage rectifier comprising a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit having low-side first type MOS transistors and upper cross-coupled second type MOS transistors. The voltage rectifier may be configured to output a rectified received voltage, each low-side first type MOS transistor being configured with an first type MOS body diode, the low-side first type MOS transistors being enabled by a timing signal to provide conduction through the low-side first type MOS transistors while bypassing conduction through the first type MOS body diode during a time window having a duration determined by voltage level crossings of the received voltage.

Abstract: A controller implantable within the body of a patient as part of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system and a method therefore are provided. According to one aspect, the controller includes processing circuitry configured to determine a voltage difference by determining a difference between a first voltage obtained from an internal coil of the controller and a target voltage, and is further configured to encode the voltage difference to produce an encoded voltage difference message. The internal coil is configured to transmit the encoded voltage difference message to a power transmitter to enable closed loop control of power transfer from the power transmitter to the controller to drive the voltage difference toward zero.

Abstract: A method and apparatus related to detecting the presence of a power transfer coil implanted in a patient are disclosed. According to the aspect, an external device of a medical implant system is provided, the external device having an external coil and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to monitor a resonance frequency associated with the external coil. When the resonance frequency changes as a distance between the external coil and an expected location of an internal coil, then the processing circuitry is configured to conclude that the internal coil has been detected. When the resonance frequency ramps up to a steady state value at a rate that falls below a rate threshold, then the processing circuitry is configured to conclude that the internal coil is connected to an internal load.

Abstract: A method and apparatus related to detecting the presence of a power transfer coil implanted in a patient are disclosed. According to the aspect, an external device of a medical implant system is provided, the external device having an external coil and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to monitor a resonance frequency associated with the external coil. When the resonance frequency changes as a distance between the external coil and an expected location of an internal coil, then the processing circuitry is configured to conclude that the internal coil has been detected. When the resonance frequency ramps up to a steady state value at a rate that falls below a rate threshold, then the processing circuitry is configured to conclude that the internal coil is connected to an internal load.