A system for minimizing misalignment notifications for a TETS having an implantable blood pump, an external controller having a power source and a processing circuitry, a transmission coil in communication with the external controller, a receiving coil configured for transcutaneous inductive communication with the transmission coil, and an implantable controller in communication with the receiving coil and the implantable blood pump. The implantable controller having a power source configured to receive power from the receiving coil. The processing circuitry may be configured to: operate in a first mode where an alert is generated when a power efficiency transfer between the transmission coil and the receiving coil is below a first predetermined threshold; and operate in a second mode where the alert is only generated when the power remaining in the power source for the implantable controller is below a first predetermined power source threshold.

A transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS) that includes external and internal coils that have permeable cores is provided. According to one aspect, the TETS includes an external coil having disposed in proximity thereto, a first set of at least one permeable core that is wound by windings of the external coil. The TETS also includes an internal coil having disposed in proximity thereto, for each permeable core disposed in proximity to the external coil, a corresponding permeable core that is wound by windings of the internal coil.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for supporting cardiac function. One system comprises an implantable intracardiac device comprising a motor and a pump, a transmitting resonator comprising a magnetic coil and configured to transmit a first level of power through an outer skin surface of the patient and a receiving resonator configured for implantation within the patient, comprising a magnetic coil and configured to transmit a second level of power to the motor within the implanted device. A controller is coupled to the transmitting resonator and configured to control the resonators and other parameters in the system such that the second level of power remains at or above a threshold level, thereby ensuring that the pump will continuously pump blood through the heart at a sufficient rate regardless of any changes in the system, such as power loss due to transmission inefficiencies and/or changes in the relative positions between the transmitting and receiving coils.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for supporting cardiac function. One system comprises an implantable intracardiac device comprising a motor and a pump, a transmitting resonator comprising a magnetic coil and configured to transmit a first level of power through an outer skin surface of the patient and a receiving resonator configured for implantation within the patient, comprising a magnetic coil and configured to transmit a second level of power to the motor within the implanted device. A controller is coupled to the transmitting resonator and configured to control the resonators and other parameters in the system such that the second level of power remains at or above a threshold level, thereby ensuring that the pump will continuously pump blood through the heart at a sufficient rate regardless of any changes in the system, such as power loss due to transmission inefficiencies and/or changes in the relative positions between the transmitting and receiving coils.

A system for minimizing misalignment notifications for a TETS having an implantable blood pump, an external controller having a power source and a processing circuitry, a transmission coil in communication with the external controller, a receiving coil configured for transcutaneous inductive communication with the transmission coil, and an implantable controller in communication with the receiving coil and the implantable blood pump. The implantable controller having a power source configured to receive power from the receiving coil. The processing circuitry may be configured to: operate in a first mode where an alert is generated when a power efficiency transfer between the transmission coil and the receiving coil is below a first predetermined threshold; and operate in a second mode where the alert is only generated when the power remaining in the power source for the implantable controller is below a first predetermined power source threshold.

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.

The invention relates to an energy transfer system (300) for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit (100) and a receiver unit (200) separate from the transmitter unit, wherein the transmitter unit (100) has a primary coil (L.sub.1) that can be supplied with a predetermined supply voltage (U.sub.v), and wherein the receiver unit (200) has a secondary coil (L.sub.2) to which a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) is connected by a rectifier (210). According to the invention, the energy transfer system (300) comprises a device (230) designed to determine a value of a DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on the DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when the supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1), and a device (240) designed to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage (U.sub.z) or a variable (K) derived therefrom. The invention also relates to a receiver unit (200) configured to interact for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit (100) separate from the receiver unit, said transmitter unit (100) comprising a primary coil (L.sub.1) that can be supplied with a supply voltage (U.sub.v), wherein the receiver unit (200) comprises a secondary coil (L.sub.2) to which a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) is connected by a rectifier (210). According to the invention, the receiver unit contains a device (230) designed to determine a value of a DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on the DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when a supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1) and a device (240) designed to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage (U.sub.z) or a variable (K) derived therefrom.

The invention relates to an energy transfer system (300) for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit (100) and a receiver unit (200) separate from the transmitter unit, wherein the transmitter unit (100) has a primary coil (L.sub.1) that can be supplied with a predetermined supply voltage (U.sub.v), and wherein the receiver unit (200) has a secondary coil (L.sub.2) to which a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) is connected by a rectifier (210). According to the invention, the energy transfer system (300) comprises a device (230) designed to determine a value of a DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on the DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when the supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1), and a device (240) designed to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage (U.sub.z) or a variable (K) derived therefrom. The invention also relates to a receiver unit (200) configured to interact for wireless energy transfer with a transmitter unit (100) separate from the receiver unit, said transmitter unit (100) comprising a primary coil (L.sub.1) that can be supplied with a supply voltage (U.sub.v), wherein the receiver unit (200) comprises a secondary coil (L.sub.2) to which a DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) is connected by a rectifier (210). According to the invention, the receiver unit contains a device (230) designed to determine a value of a DC link voltage (U.sub.z) applied on the DC link capacitor (C.sub.z) when a supply voltage (U.sub.v) is applied on the primary coil (L.sub.1) and a device (240) designed to perform at least one predetermined function based on the determined value of the DC link voltage (U.sub.z) or a variable (K) derived therefrom.

An external power transmitter of an implanted medical device system such as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system and a method therefore are provided. According to one aspect, a method includes transitioning from applying a first external coil current limit to applying a second external coil current limit to limit current of an external coil coupled to the external power transmitter, the transitioning being based on at least one of an intent to enter a free mode of operation of the implanted medical device system, an existence of an alarm condition, and an existence of transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS) power transfer.

Systems, devices, and methods for improving wireless power transmission are disclosed herein. A method of powering an implantable ventricular assist device with an external charging device includes receiving a signal indicative of a change in a property of a deformable coil of the resonant circuit. A performance property of the deformable coil is determined based on the signal. An adjustment to a tuning of the resonant circuit is identified based on the performance property of the deformable coil. The resonant circuit is tuned according to the adjustment to the tuning of the resonant circuit. The resonant circuit is driven to transmit power to a secondary coil electrically coupled with the implantable ventricular assist device to power the ventricular assist device.