Wireless recharging system and method for flexible implantable subcutaneous medical device
Subcutaneous implantable medical device (IMD) recharging system, including a flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD and a charger transmitter, the flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD implanted in a patient and including at least one receiver antenna and at least one rechargeable battery, the charger transmitter including at least one transmitter antenna and a modulator, the charger transmitter for providing electromagnetic (EM) radiation to the receiver antenna wirelessly for recharging the rechargeable battery, the transmitter antenna being encased in a structure for temporarily coupling the transmitter antenna to the skin of the patient and the modulator being for modulating the EM radiation and for simultaneously transmitting programming information to the flexible rechargeable subcutaneous IMD as modulated EM radiation.
1. A method for simultaneously recharging and communicating data wirelessly to a subcutaneous rechargeable implantable medical device (IMD) including an antenna, comprising:
transmitting electromagnetic (EM) radiation simultaneously over a plurality of frequencies for receiving by the antenna for recharging the subcutaneous rechargeable IMD; and
modulating the EM radiation for communicating data to the subcutaneous rechargeable IMD,
wherein the IMD includes an elongated and flexible body, at least one lead for providing an electric shock and at least one transition unit for coupling the at least one lead to at least one end of the elongated and flexible body, and wherein the at least one antenna is positioned in the at least one transition unit.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frequencies are independent of each other.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of an amount of electromagnetic radiation transferred, an amount of time elapsed since a start of a recharge procedure, and device programmable parameters of the subcutaneous rechargeable IMD.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting EM radiation includes transmitting the EM radiation continuously.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting EM radiation includes transmitting the EM radiation in a pulsed manner.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one antenna comprises a copper coil having a generally cylindrical shape.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IMD further includes a plurality of electronic components and at least one rechargeable battery, for powering the plurality of electronic components.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one antenna receives electromagnetic radiation for recharging the at least one rechargeable battery.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the elongated and flexible body is structured from a plurality of units, wherein a first one of the plurality of units encapsulates the at least one rechargeable battery, and wherein each other of the plurality of units respectively encapsulates a respective one of the plurality of electronic components.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transition unit is covered with a biocompatible polymer.