Abstract: A device, such as an IMD, having a tissue conductance communication (TCC) transmitter controls a drive signal circuit and a polarity switching circuit by a controller of the TCC transmitter to generate an alternating current (AC) ramp on signal having a peak amplitude that is stepped up from a starting peak-to-peak amplitude to an ending peak-to-peak amplitude according to a step increment and step up interval. The TCC transmitter is further controlled to transmit the AC ramp on signal from the drive signal circuit and the polarity switching circuit via a coupling capacitor coupled to a transmitting electrode vector coupleable to the IMD. After the AC ramp on signal, the TCC transmitter transmits at least one TCC signal to a receiving device.

Abstract: A device, such as an IMD, having a tissue conductance communication (TCC) transmitter controls a drive signal circuit and a polarity switching circuit by a controller of the TCC transmitter to generate an alternating current (AC) ramp on signal having a peak amplitude that is stepped up from a starting peak-to-peak amplitude to an ending peak-to-peak amplitude according to a step increment and step up interval. The TCC transmitter is further controlled to transmit the AC ramp on signal from the drive signal circuit and the polarity switching circuit via a coupling capacitor coupled to a transmitting electrode vector coupleable to the IMD. After the AC ramp on signal, the TCC transmitter transmits at least one TCC signal to a receiving device.

Abstract: An external power source, implantable medical device, and method for indicating an extent of power transfer between an external coil to an internal coil associated with the implantable medical device. According to one aspect, a method includes determining a parameter that depends on an extent to which the external coil is aligned with the internal coil, where the parameter includes at least one of an indication of an internal coil output power and power transfer efficiency and a resonant frequency of the external coil when inductively coupled to the internal coil. The method further includes indicating an extent to which the external coil is aligned with the internal coil based on the parameter.

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: 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: According to one or more embodiments, a system is provided. The system includes a power device implantable within a patient for powering an implantable medical device. The power device includes a first coil configured to receive wireless power signals for powering the implantable medical device and processing circuitry configured to determine at least one measurable electrical characteristic in a plurality of electrical pathways in the power device including an electrical pathway to the first coil, and detect reduced performance in receiving wireless power signals based at least in part on the determined at least one measurable electrical characteristic.

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 external power transmitter and methods for adjusting a rate of search pulse transmission by an external power transmitter of an implanted medical device system are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes detecting a condition of the external power transmitter, and selecting among rates of transmission of search pulses based on the detected condition.

Abstract: A device, such as an IMD, having a tissue conductance communication (TCC) transmitter controls a drive signal circuit and a polarity switching circuit by a controller of the TCC transmitter to generate an alternating current (AC) ramp on signal having a peak amplitude that is stepped up from a starting peak-to-peak amplitude to an ending peak-to-peak amplitude according to a step increment and step up interval. The TCC transmitter is further controlled to transmit the AC ramp on signal from the drive signal circuit and the polarity switching circuit via a coupling capacitor coupled to a transmitting electrode vector coupleable to the IMD. After the AC ramp on signal, the TCC transmitter transmits at least one TCC signal to a receiving device.

Abstract: A device, such as an IMD, having a tissue conductance communication (TCC) transmitter controls a drive signal circuit and a polarity switching circuit by a controller of the TCC transmitter to generate an alternating current (AC) ramp on signal having a peak amplitude that is stepped up from a starting peak-to-peak amplitude to an ending peak-to-peak amplitude according to a step increment and step up interval. The TCC transmitter is further controlled to transmit the AC ramp on signal from the drive signal circuit and the polarity switching circuit via a coupling capacitor coupled to a transmitting electrode vector coupleable to the IMD. After the AC ramp on signal, the TCC transmitter transmits at least one TCC signal to a receiving device.

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: The present disclosure provides a transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS), having an implantable receiving coil in communication with an implantable controller and a hermetically sealed package encased by the implantable receiving coil. The hermetically sealed package including a plurality of tuning capacitors, at least one temperature sensor, scavenging circuitry configured to scavenge power from the plurality of tuning capacitors, and a temperature measuring circuit in communication with the at least one temperature sensor and the scavenging circuitry. The at least one temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the hermetically sealed package and the temperature measuring circuit being configured to transmit the measured temperature to the implantable controller.

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: In an implanted medical device system, an external power transmitter and methods for adjusting a rate of search pulse transmission by an external power transmitter of an implanted medical device system are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes detecting a condition of the external power transmitter, and selecting among rates of transmission of search pulses based on the detected condition.

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: 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: 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 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.