Status indicator for implantable systems
View Patent ↗A status indicator is provided for use with a medical device that employs a power transmitting coil. In one embodiment, the status indicator comprises a receiving coil and feedback element. The feedback element, such as a light emitting diode (LED) or liquid crystal display (LCD), is electrically coupled to the receiving coil. In another embodiment a status indicator is incorporated into the medical device, which status indicator comprises a feedback element and electronic circuitry for detecting device function and program selection. The circuitry and feedback element are incorporated into the medical device such as on the earhook of a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing device.
1. A stick-on status indicator for use with a cochlear implant system, the cochlear implant system including a headpiece wherein a transmitting coil is housed, and wherein the transmitting coil is used to transcutaneously power an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that is part of the cochlear implant system, wherein the status indicator consists of the following electrical components:
a receiving coil, and
a light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected in series with the receiving coil; and
wherein induced current is generated in the receiving coil by inductive coupling with the transmitting coil when the transmitting coil has alternating current flowing through it; and
wherein the LED is powered on by the induced current generated in the receiving coil; and
wherein the receiving coil and LED are affixed to a flat tab having a shape and size adapted to fit over and be detachably secured to an outer surface of the headpiece.
2. The stick-on status indicator of claim 1 wherein the flat tab comprises two thin sheets of a first material, and wherein the receiving coil and LED are sandwiched inside the two thin sheets of material.
3. The stick-on status indicator of claim 2 wherein the tab has the shape of a circle.
4. The stick-on status indicator of claim 3 wherein an outer surface of one of the two thin sheets of material is coated with an adhesive having a level of stickiness that allows the tab to be detachably secured to the outer surface of the headpiece.
5. A hand-held status indicator for use with a cochlear implant system, the cochlear implant system including a headpiece wherein a transmitting coil is housed, and wherein the transmitting coil is used to transcutaneously power an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that is part of the cochlear implant system, wherein the status indicator consists of the following electrical components:
a receiving coil, and
a light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected in series with the receiving coil; and
wherein induced current is generated in the receiving coil by inductive coupling with the transmitting coil when the transmitting coil has current flowing through it; and
wherein the LED is powered on by the induced current generated in the receiving coil; and
wherein the receiving coil and LED are housed within a hand-held wand that is separate and apart from the cochlear implant system; and
wherein the LED is powered on by induced current generated in the receiving coil whenever the hand-held wand is held near the headpiece.
6. A method for detecting battery status of an external battery used with a cochlear implant system, the cochlear implant system including an external sound processor having the external battery, a headpiece having a transmitting coil connected to the external sound processor, wherein the transmitting coil is used to transcutaneously transfer power from the external battery to an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that is part of the cochlear implant system, wherein the method for detecting battery status comprises:
assembling a status indicator, separate and apart from the cochlear implant system, that electrically consists of only the following electrical components:
a receiving coil, and
a light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected in series with the receiving coil;
positioning the status indicator so that the receiving coil of the status indicator is physically close to the transmitting coil in the headpiece; and
detecting electrical current induced in the receiving coil by observing whether the LED in the status indicator is powered on, a powered on condition of the LED indicating that electrical current has been induced in the receiving coil from the power being transferred from the external battery through the transmitting coil to the implantable pulse generator, and hence a powered on condition of the LED indicating that functioning properly.