Implantable medical device comprising a wireless transcutaneous link
地域：
Sm?rum
摘要
According to an embodiment, a medical device is disclosed. The medical device includes an external unit and an implantable unit. The external unit includes an electronic unit operationally coupled to a transmitter coil that is configured transmit power and/or data signal over a wireless transcutaneous link, a coil unit comprising a loop structure with the transmitter coil being wound around and along at least a part of length of the loop structure, and a fixation unit configured to attach the loop structure to a user's body i) proximal to an implantable receiver coil that is configured to be implanted within a body part, and ii) around a body part of a user such that a part of the body part is positioned in a hollow section of the loop structure. The implantable unit includes the implantable receiver coil configured to receive the power and/or data signal over the wireless transcutaneous link, a processing unit configured to i) process the received data signal to control functionalities of at least one of the components of the implantable unit, and/or ii) utilize the received power for operation of at least one of the components of the implantable unit. The wireless transcutaneous link includes a coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil, and when the loop structure is attached using the fixation unit, at least a substantial number of magnetic field lines generated in response to excitation of the transmitter coil passes through the implantable receiver coil.
說明書
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This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/100,875, filed on Aug. 10, 2018, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Application No. 17185904.4, filed in Europe on Aug. 11, 2017, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.
The present disclosure relates to an implantable medical device comprising a transcutaneous link. In particular, the disclosure relates to an implantable medical device, such as a hearing aid, comprising a wireless transcutaneous link for transmitting power and/or data over the link comprising a coupling between a transmitter coil and an implantable receiver coil, wherein a coupling coefficient between the transmitter coil and the implantable receiver coil is substantially improved.
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms parts of common general knowledge in the field.
Medical devices having one or more implantable unit, generally referred to as implantable medical devices, have provided a wide range of benefits to patients over recent decades. In particular, devices such as implantable hearing aids, implantable pacemakers, defibrillators, eye implant, retina implant, heart pump, drug delivery systems, gastric implant, nerve stimulators, brain stimulators, functional electrical stimulation devices, such as cochlear prostheses, organ assist or replacement devices, and other partially or completely-implanted medical devices, have been successful in performing life-saving and/or lifestyle enhancement functions for a number of years.
權(quán)利要求
The invention claimed is:1. A hearing aid device comprisingan external unit configured to be worn proximate to a user's ear, the external unit comprisingan electronic unit operationally coupled to a transmitter coil that is configured transmit power and/or data signal over a wireless transcutaneous link, a coil unit comprising a loop structure with the transmitter coil being wound around and along at least a part of length of the loop structure, a fixation unit configured to attach the loop structure to the user's ear proximal to a loop-shaped implantable receiver coil that is configured to be implanted within the ear or around the ear of the user such that a part of the ear is positioned in a hollow section of the loop structure; and an implantable unit comprisingthe implantable receiver coil configured to receive the power and/or data signal over the wireless transcutaneous link, and a processing unit configured to i) process the received data signal to control functionalities of at least one of the components of the implantable unit, and/or ii) utilize the received power for operation of at least one of the components of the implantable unit, whereinthe wireless transcutaneous link comprises a coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil, and when the loop structure is attached using the fixation unit such that at least a substantial number of magnetic field lines generated in response to excitation of the transmitter coil passes through the opening in the loop-shaped implantable receiver coil. 2. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixation unit is adapted to attach the loop structure with respect to the implantable receiver coil in an arrangement such that one section of the implantable receiver coil is positioned within the hollow section of the loop structure whereas the other section of the implantable receiver coil is positioned outside the hollow section of the loop structure. 3. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixation unit is configured to attach the loop structure proximal to the implantable receiver coil such that the loop structure passes through the implantable receiver coil and the implantable receiver coil winds around a segment of the loop structure. 4. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixation unit is configured to attach the loop structure around the ear such that the loop structure and the implantable receiver coil are arranged in an interlocked hopf link configuration. 5. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the loop structure comprises an openable closed loop structure comprising a section that is configured to penetrate through the body part at least at one point of the body part. 6. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the loop structure comprises an openable open loop structure comprising a slit having a first slit end configured to abut a first skin surface of the user and a second slit end, opposite to the first slit end, configured to abut a second skin surface of the user, the first skin surface and the second skin surface being separated by a body tissue. 7. The hearing aid device according to claim 6 , wherein the first slit end is adapted to face a first planar side of the implantable receiver coil; and a second slit end is adapted to face a second planar side, opposite to the first planar side, of the implantable receiver coil. 8. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein a planar area of the implantable receiver coil is at least the same as a cross sectional area of the loop structure at an interface of the loop structure. 9. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the implantable unit comprises an implantable magnetic core that is configured to be positioned within an area enclosed by a perimeter of the implantable receiver coil. 10. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a substantial number of magnetic field lines generated in response to excitation of the transmitter coil are generated within the loop structure. 11. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one turn of the transmitter coil is non-parallel to the implantable receiver coil. 12. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the loop structure comprises a first sub-structure and a second sub-structure, the first sub-structure and the second sub-structure being configured to operationally connect with each other to form an openable closed loop structure or openable open loop structure. 13. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixation unit is selected from a group consisting of a non-magnetic fixation unit and a fixation mechanism that is adapted to attach the loop structure to a user's ear independent of any cooperation with the implantable unit. 14. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixation unit is selected from a group consisting of a clamp mechanism, spring mechanism, piercing pin mechanism, snap-coupling mechanism between the first sub-structure and second sub-structure, a magnetic coupling mechanism between a first sub-structure and second sub-structure that are configured to operationally connect with each, and a combination thereof. 15. The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to process the received data signal and generate an output, and the electrode array is configured to deliver electrical charges in accordance with the output. 16. The hearing aid device according to claim 2 , wherein the fixation unit is configured to attach the loop structure proximal to the implantable receiver coil such that a loop axis or an extrapolated loop axis of the loop structure passes through the implantable receiver coil. 17. The hearing aid device according to claim 2 , wherein the fixation unit is configured to attach the loop structure around the body part such that the loop structure and the implantable receiver coil are arranged in an interlocked hopf link configuration. 18. The hearing aid device according to claim 3 , wherein the fixation unit is configured to attach the loop structure around the body part such that the loop structure and the implantable receiver coil are arranged in an interlocked hopf link configuration. 19. The hearing aid device according to claim 2 , wherein the loop structure comprises an openable closed loop structure comprising a section that is configured to penetrate through the body part at least at one point of the body part. 20. The hearing aid device according to claim 3 , wherein the loop structure comprises an openable closed loop structure comprising a section that is configured to penetrate through the body part at least at one point of the body part.
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