Power transmitter with security system

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first magnetic induction (MI) antenna configured to wirelessly transfer power to a second MI antenna of a device within or on a body part of a recipient. The apparatus also includes a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal. The apparatus further includes control circuitry in electrical communication with the first MI antenna and the sensor. The control circuitry is configured to determine, in response to the sensor signal, at least one of a presence, a location, and / or a property of a pad between the body part and the first MI antenna, a gap between the first MI antenna and the body part, and a degree to which tissue of the recipient is within a power transfer range of the first MI antenna. The control circuitry is also configured to adjust a level of power transferred by the first MI antenna in response to the sensor signal.

Description

background Technical Field

[0001] This application generally relates to systems and methods for wirelessly transmitting power from an external device outside the recipient's body to a device on or implanted within the recipient's body. Background Technology

[0002] Over the past few decades, medical devices have provided a wide range of therapeutic benefits to recipients. Medical devices can include internal or implantable components / devices, external or wearable components / devices, or combinations thereof (e.g., devices having an external component that communicates with the implantable component). Medical devices, such as conventional hearing aids, partially or fully implantable hearing prostheses (e.g., bone conduction devices, mechanical stimulators, cochlear implants, etc.), pacemakers, defibrillators, functional electrical stimulation devices, and other medical devices, have been successful for many years in performing life-saving and / or lifestyle improvement functions and / or recipient monitoring.

[0003] Over the years, the types of medical devices and the range of functions they perform have increased. For example, many medical devices, sometimes referred to as “implantable medical devices,” now typically include one or more instruments, devices, sensors, processors, controllers, or other functional mechanical or electrical components that are permanently or temporarily implanted in the recipient’s body. These functional devices are typically used to diagnose, prevent, monitor, treat, or manage diseases / injuries or their symptoms, or to study, replace, or modify anatomical structures or physiological processes. Many of these functional devices utilize power and / or data received from an external device that is part of or operates in conjunction with the implantable component. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect disclosed herein, a device includes at least one first magnetically inductive (MI) antenna configured to wirelessly transmit power to at least one second MI antenna of a device located within or on a body part of a receiver. The device also includes at least one sensor configured to generate at least one sensor signal. The device further includes a control circuitry system in electrical communication with the at least one first MI antenna and the at least one sensor. The control circuitry system is configured to determine, in response to the at least one sensor signal, at least one of the following: the presence, location, and / or at least one attribute of a padding between the body part and the at least one first MI antenna, the gap between the at least one first MI antenna and the body part, and the extent to which the receiver's tissue is within the power transmission range of the at least one first MI antenna. The control circuitry system is further configured to adjust the power level transmitted by the at least one first MI antenna in response to the at least one sensor signal.

[0005] In another aspect disclosed herein, a method includes wirelessly transmitting power from a power source to a device on or implanted within the body of a recipient. The device is inductively coupled to the power source. The method further includes generating information relating to the recipient's body's exposure to electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields generated by the power source while wirelessly transmitting the power from the power source to the device. The method also includes adjusting the power transmitted from the power source to the device in response to the information, such that the electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields conform to predetermined medical safety regulatory standards for exposure to the recipient's body.

[0006] In another aspect disclosed herein, a device includes at least one first antenna coil configured to receive at least one current. The at least one current is configured to flow through the at least one first antenna coil to transmit power transdermally to at least one second antenna coil of a device within or on a tissue portion of a recipient's body. The device further includes at least one sensor configured to generate at least one first signal indicating the presence, type, and / or thickness of a pad between the tissue portion of the recipient's body and the at least one first antenna coil. The device also includes a circuitry configured to adjust the at least one current in response to the at least one first signal.

[0007] In another aspect disclosed herein, a device includes a housing having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The housing is configured to be positioned in a first orientation or a second orientation. In the first orientation, the first surface is on a lower support surface and the second surface contacts a receiver or a pad below the receiver. In the second orientation, the second surface is on the lower support surface and the first surface contacts the receiver or the pad below the receiver. The device also includes at least one power transmission coil within the housing. The at least one power transmission coil is positioned closer to the second surface than to the first surface and is configured to transmit power to a device on or within the receiver. The device also includes a sensor on or within the housing. The sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal indicating whether the housing is in the first orientation or the second orientation. The device also includes a circuitry within the housing and in electrical communication with the at least one power transmission coil. The circuitry is configured to adjust at least one current flowing through the at least one power transmission coil in response to the sensor signal. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The embodiments are described in this article with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A This is a perspective view of an example cochlear implant auditory prosthesis implanted in a recipient according to some of the embodiments described herein; Figure 1B This is a perspective view of all example implantable middle ear implants and auditory prostheses implanted in a recipient according to some embodiments described herein; Figure 2 Example devices according to certain embodiments described herein are illustrated schematically; Figure 3A-3G Various views and configurations of example devices, example means within or on a portion of a recipient’s body, and example pads between the device and that portion of the recipient’s body are schematically shown according to certain embodiments described herein. Figures 4A-4F Various examples of first MI antennas according to certain embodiments described herein are schematically illustrated; and Figure 5 This is a flowchart of an example method 500 for operating a device according to certain embodiments described herein. Detailed Implementation

[0009] Some embodiments described herein provide a wireless power transmitter for charging a device implanted or worn on a recipient's body. The transmitter includes a sensor system configured to detect one or more environmental aspects of the transmitter and the device to be charged, which may vary unpredictably during or between charging processes. Example aspects include: the presence, location, and / or at least one attribute (e.g., pad material type; pad material) of a liner between the device and the transmitter; the gap between the device's magnetic induction (MI) antenna and the body portion; and the extent to which the recipient's body tissue is within the range of the transmitter's power transmission. The rate of power transfer between the device and the transmitter and / or the recipient's tissue exposure to electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields may depend on the detected aspects, and the transmitter can use the detected aspects (e.g., by adjusting the current flowing through the MI antenna) to adjust the transmitted power level to optimize the charging current while complying with regulatory exposure safety limits.

[0010] The teachings detailed herein are applicable in at least some embodiments to any type of implantable or non-implantable stimulation or measurement system (e.g., implantable or non-implantable auditory prosthesis device or system). Embodiments may include any type of medical device that can utilize the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof. Furthermore, while some embodiments are described herein in the context of auditory prosthesis devices, certain other embodiments are compatible in the context of other types of devices or systems.

[0011] For ease of description only, the devices and methods disclosed herein are described primarily with reference to exemplary medical devices, which may include, but are not limited to: electroacoustic / electrical systems, cochlear implant devices, implantable hearing aid devices, middle ear implant devices, bone conduction devices (e.g., active bone conduction devices; passive bone conduction devices; percutaneous bone conduction devices; transdermal bone conduction devices), direct acoustic cochlear implants (DACI), middle ear transducers (MET), electroacoustic implant devices, other types of auditory prostheses and / or combinations or variations thereof, or any other suitable hearing prosthesis system with or without one or more external components. Embodiments may include any type of auditory prosthesis capable of utilizing the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof. Some such embodiments may be referred to as “partially implantable,” “semi-implantable,” “largely implantable,” “fully implantable,” or “completely implantable” auditory prostheses. In some embodiments, the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof may be utilized in other types of prostheses besides auditory prostheses.

[0012] While certain embodiments are described herein in the context of auditory prosthetic devices, certain other embodiments compatible with other types of sensory prosthetic systems configured to evoke other types of neural or sensory perception (e.g., vision, touch, smell, taste) are also compatible with some of the embodiments described herein. These other types of sensory prosthetic systems include, but are not limited to: vestibular devices (e.g., vestibular implants), tinnitus treatment devices, visual devices (e.g., bionic eyes), visual prostheses (e.g., retinal implants), somatosensory implants, and chemosensory implants. Certain other embodiments are compatible with other types of medical devices (e.g., epilepsy monitoring systems; pain control systems; bladder control systems; sleep apnea control systems; neurostimulators; pacemakers) that can utilize the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof to provide a wide range of therapeutic benefits to recipients, patients, or other users for performing monitoring or measurement functions (e.g., EEG monitoring of brain function; ECG monitoring of cardiac function) or other medical implants that include a rechargeable implantable power source.

[0013] Figure 1A This is a perspective view of an example cochlear implant auditory prosthesis 100 implanted in a recipient according to certain embodiments described herein. The example auditory prosthesis 100 is... Figure 1A The image is shown to include an implantable stimulator unit 120 and a microphone assembly 124 external to the recipient (e.g., a partially implantable cochlear implant). Example auditory prostheses 100 according to certain embodiments described herein (e.g., fully implantable cochlear implants; partially implantable cochlear implants) can be replaced with subcutaneously implantable microphone assemblies as described more fully herein. Figure 1A The external microphone assembly 124 is shown. In some embodiments, Figure 1A The example cochlear implant auditory prosthesis 100 can be combined with a liquid drug reservoir as described herein.

[0014] like Figure 1A As shown, the recipient has an outer ear 101, a middle ear 105, and an inner ear 107. In a fully functional ear, the outer ear 101 includes an auricle 110 and an ear canal 102. Sound pressure, or sound waves 103, are collected by the auricle 110 and guided into and through the ear canal 102. A tympanic membrane 104, which vibrates in response to sound waves 103, is located at the distal end of the ear canal 102. This vibration is connected to the oval window or vestibular window 112 by three bones in the middle ear 105, collectively referred to as ossicles 106, and including the malleus 108, incus 109, and stapes 111. The bones 108, 109, and 111 of the middle ear 105 filter and amplify the sound waves 103, causing the oval window 112 to oscillate or vibrate in response to the vibration of the tympanic membrane 104. This vibration creates a fluid motion wave of perilymph within the cochlea 140. This fluid movement then activates tiny hair cells (not shown) inside the cochlea 140. The activation of the hair cells generates appropriate nerve impulses, which are transmitted to the brain (also not shown) via spiral ganglion cells (not shown) and the auditory nerve 114, where they are perceived as sound.

[0015] like Figure 1A As shown, the example hearing prosthesis 100 includes one or more components that are temporarily or permanently implanted in the recipient's body. The example hearing prosthesis 100 in... Figure 1A The device is shown to have: an external component 142 that is directly or indirectly attached to the recipient's body; and an internal component 144 that is temporarily or permanently implanted in the recipient's body (e.g., located in a recess of the temporal bone adjacent to the recipient's auricle 110). The external component 142 typically includes one or more sound input elements for detecting sound (e.g., an external microphone 124), a sound processing unit 126 (e.g., disposed in a behind-the-ear unit), a power supply (not shown), and an external transmitter unit 128. Figure 1AIn an exemplary embodiment, the external transmitter unit 128 includes an external coil 130 (e.g., a linear antenna coil comprising a single or multiple strand of electrically insulated platinum or gold wire with multiple turns), and preferably includes a magnet (not shown) directly or indirectly attached to the external coil 130. The external coil 130 of the external transmitter unit 128 is part of an inductive radio frequency (RF) communication link with the internal component 144. The sound processing unit 126 processes the output of the microphone 124, which in the depicted embodiment is positioned outside the receiver's body by the receiver's auricle 110. The sound processing unit 126 processes the output of the microphone 124 and generates an encoded signal, sometimes referred to herein as an encoded data signal, which is provided to the external transmitter unit 128 (e.g., via a cable). It should be understood that the sound processing unit 126 may utilize digital processing techniques to provide frequency shaping, amplification, compression, and other signal conditioning, including conditioning based on receiver-specific fitting parameters.

[0016] The power source of the external component 142 is configured to supply power to the hearing prosthesis 100, which includes a battery (e.g., located in the internal component 144 or disposed at a separate implantation site) that is charged by power supplied by the external component 142 (e.g., via a transdermal power delivery link). The transdermal power delivery link is used to transfer power and / or data to the internal component 144 of the hearing prosthesis 100. Various types of power delivery (such as infrared (IR), electromagnetic, capacitive, and inductive delivery) can be used to transfer power and / or data from the external component 142 to the internal component 144. During operation of the hearing prosthesis 100, power stored in the rechargeable battery is distributed as needed to various other implanted components.

[0017] Internal component 144 includes an internal receiver unit 132, a stimulator unit 120, and an elongated electrode assembly 118. In some embodiments, the internal receiver unit 132 and the stimulator unit 120 are hermetically sealed within a biocompatible housing. The internal receiver unit 132 includes an internal coil 136 (e.g., a linear antenna coil comprising a single or multiple strands of electrically insulated platinum or gold wire), and preferably includes a magnet (also not shown) fixed relative to the internal coil 136. The internal receiver unit 132 and the stimulator unit 120, hermetically sealed within a biocompatible housing, are sometimes collectively referred to as the stimulator / receiver unit. The internal coil 136 receives electrical and / or data signals from the external coil 130 via a transdermal power delivery link (e.g., an inductive RF link). The stimulator unit 120 generates an electrical stimulation signal based on the data signal, and the stimulation signal is delivered to the recipient via the elongated electrode assembly 118.

[0018] An elongated electrode assembly 118 has a proximal end connected to the stimulator unit 120 and a distal end implanted in the cochlea 140. The electrode assembly 118 extends from the stimulator unit 120 through the mastoid bone 119 to reach the cochlea 140. In some embodiments, the electrode assembly 118 may be implanted at least in the basal region 116, and sometimes deeper. For example, the electrode assembly 118 may extend toward the apex of the cochlea 140 (referred to as the cochlear apex 134). In some cases, the electrode assembly 118 may be inserted into the cochlea 140 via the cochlear fenestration 122. In other cases, the cochlear fenestration may be formed via a round window 121, an oval window 112, a promontory 123, or through the apical gyrus 147 of the cochlea 140.

[0019] The elongated electrode assembly 118 includes a longitudinally aligned and distally extending array 146 of electrodes or contacts 148 disposed along its length, sometimes referred to herein as an electrode or contact array 146. Although the electrode array 146 may be disposed on the electrode assembly 118, in most practical applications, the electrode array 146 is integrated into the electrode assembly 118 (e.g., the electrode array 146 is disposed within the electrode assembly 118). As noted, the stimulator unit 120 generates a stimulation signal, which is applied by the electrodes 148 to the cochlea 140, thereby stimulating the auditory nerve 114.

[0020] Although Figure 1A A hearing prosthesis 100 utilizing an external component 142 including an external microphone 124, an external sound processing unit 126, and an external power supply is schematically shown. However, in some other embodiments, one or more of the microphone 124, sound processing unit 126, and power supply may be implanted in or within the recipient's body (e.g., within the internal component 144). For example, the hearing prosthesis 100 may have each of the microphone 124, sound processing unit 126, and power supply that can be implanted in or within the recipient's body (e.g., enclosed within a subcutaneous biocompatible component) and may be referred to as a fully implantable cochlear implant (“TICI”). For another example, the hearing prosthesis 100 may have most of the components of a cochlear implant that can be implanted in or within the recipient's body (e.g., excluding the microphone, which may be an in-ear canal microphone) and may be referred to as a largely implantable cochlear implant (“MICI”).

[0021] Figure 1B A perspective view is schematically shown of an example fully implantable auditory prosthesis 200 (e.g., a fully implantable middle ear implant or a fully implantable acoustic system) implanted in a recipient using an acoustic actuator according to certain embodiments described herein. Figure 1B Example hearing prosthesis 200 includes a biocompatible implantable component 202 (e.g., including an implantable capsule) located subcutaneously (e.g., under the recipient's skin and on the recipient's skull). Although Figure 1B An example implantable component 202 including a microphone is schematically shown, but in other example hearing prostheses 200, a pendant microphone (e.g., connected to the implantable component 202 via a cable) may be used. The implantable component 202 includes a signal receiver 204 (e.g., including a coil element) and an acoustic transducer (e.g., a microphone assembly 206 including a diaphragm and an electret or piezoelectric transducer), the acoustic transducer being positioned to receive acoustic signals through the recipient's covering tissue. The implantable component 202 may also be used to accommodate multiple components of the entire implantable hearing prosthesis 200. For example, the implantable component 202 may include an energy storage device and a signal processor (e.g., a sound processing unit). Various additional processing logic and / or circuitry components may also be included in the implantable component 202 as a design option.

[0022] for Figure 1B The example hearing prosthesis 200 shown includes an implantable component 202 whose signal processor and actuator 210 (e.g., including a transducer configured to generate mechanical vibrations in response to an electrical signal from the signal processor) operate in communication (e.g., electrically interconnected via wire 208). In some embodiments, Figure 1A and 1B The example auditory prostheses 100, 200 shown may include implantable microphone components, such as Figure 1B The microphone assembly 206 is shown. For such an example auditory prosthesis 100, the signal processor of the implantable component 202 can operatively communicate (e.g., via electrical interconnection via wires) with the microphone assembly 206 and the stimulator unit of the main implantable component 120. In some embodiments, at least one of the microphone assembly 206 and the signal processor (e.g., a sound processing unit) is implanted on or inside the recipient.

[0023] Figure 1B The actuator 210 of the example auditory prosthesis 200 shown is supportably connected to a positioning system 212, which is then (e.g., via a hole drilled through the skull) connected to a bone anchor 214 installed within the recipient's mastoid process. The actuator 210 includes a connection device 216 for connecting the actuator 210 to the recipient's ossicles 106. In the connected state, the connection device 216 provides a communication path for acoustic stimulation of the ossicles 106 (e.g., by transmitting vibrations from the actuator 210 to the incus 109).

[0024] During normal operation, ambient acoustic signals (e.g., ambient sounds) impact the recipient's tissue and are received transdermally at microphone assembly 206. Upon receiving the transdermal signal, a signal processor implantable within assembly 202 processes the signal to provide a processed audio drive signal to actuator 210 via wire 208. It should be understood that the signal processor may utilize digital processing techniques to provide frequency shaping, amplification, compression, and other signal conditioning, including conditioning based on recipient-specific fitting parameters. The audio drive signal causes actuator 210 to transmit acoustic vibrations to connection device 216 to influence the desired sound sensation via mechanical stimulation of the recipient's incus 109.

[0025] The subcutaneously implantable microphone assembly 202 is configured to respond to auditory signals (e.g., sound; pressure changes within the audible frequency range) by generating output signals (e.g., electrical signals; optical signals; electromagnetic signals), the output signals indicating auditory signals received by the microphone assembly 202, and these output signals are used by auditory prostheses 100, 200 to generate stimulus signals that are provided to the auditory system of a recipient. To compensate for the reduced acoustic signal intensity reaching the microphone assembly 202 due to implantation, the septum of the implantable microphone assembly 202 may be configured to provide higher sensitivity than that of externally non-implantable microphone assemblies. For example, the septum of the implantable microphone assembly 202 may be configured to be more robust and / or larger than that of externally non-implantable microphone assemblies.

[0026] Figure 1A The example hearing prosthesis 100 shown utilizes an external microphone 124, and Figure 1B The auditory prosthesis 200 shown utilizes an implantable microphone assembly 206 including a subcutaneously implantable acoustic transducer. In some embodiments described herein, the auditory prosthesis 100 utilizes one or more implantable microphone assemblies located on or inside the recipient. In some embodiments described herein, the auditory prosthesis 200 utilizes one or more microphone assemblies positioned externally to the recipient and / or implanted on or inside the recipient, and utilizes one or more acoustic transducers (e.g., actuator 210) implanted on or inside the recipient. In some embodiments, an external microphone assembly may be used to supplement the implantable microphone assembly of the auditory prostheses 100, 200. Therefore, the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof can be used with any type of external or implantable microphone arrangement, and Figure 1A and 1B The acoustic transducer shown is merely illustrative.

[0027] Figure 2 An example device 300 according to some embodiments described herein is illustrated schematically. Figure 3A-3GVarious views and configurations of an example device 300 according to certain embodiments described herein, an example device 400 within or on a portion 405 of a recipient's body, and an example pad 307 between the device 300 and that portion 405 of the recipient's body are schematically illustrated. In some embodiments, such as Figure 3A-3G As shown, device 300 (e.g., pillow charger; mattress charger) is positioned on an underlying support surface (e.g., mattress surface; bed frame surface), while in some other embodiments, device 300 is embedded in a padded component (e.g., headrest charger; seat charger) that comes into contact with the recipient's body or is worn and / or held by the recipient.

[0028] In some embodiments, device 300 includes at least one first magnetic induction (MI) antenna 310 configured to wirelessly transmit power to at least one second MI antenna 410 of device 400 within or on a body part 405 of a receiver. Device 300 also includes at least one sensor 320 configured to generate at least one sensor signal 322. Device 300 further includes a control circuitry system 330 in electrical communication with at least one first MI antenna 310 and at least one sensor 320. Control circuitry system 330 is configured to determine, in response to at least one sensor signal 322, at least one of the following: the presence, location, and / or at least one property of a pad 307 between body part 405 and at least one first MI antenna 310; the gap between at least one first MI antenna 310 and body part 405; and the extent to which the receiver's tissue is within the power transmission range of at least one first MI antenna 310. The control circuit system 330 is also configured to adjust the power level transmitted by at least one first MI antenna 310 in response to at least one sensor signal 322 (e.g., by adjusting the current flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310).

[0029] In some embodiments, the device 400 receiving power from the device 300 is the implanted portion of a transdermal system (e.g., a “partially implantable,” “semi-implantable,” “largely implantable,” “fully implantable,” or “completely implantable” transdermal system) configured to operate using power currently received by the device 400 and / or power previously received and stored by the device 400. For example, the transdermal system may be a sensory prosthetic system (e.g., an auditory prosthetic system; a visual prosthetic system; a vestibular prosthetic system), a muscle (e.g., cardiac) stimulation or monitoring system, a nerve stimulation or monitoring system, or a brain stimulation or monitoring system.

[0030] Device 400 may include at least one second MI antenna 410 (e.g., at least one substantially flat antenna coil) and may be configured to operate in conjunction with a corresponding external portion (not shown) of the transdermal system. The external portion may include at least one external MI antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one second MI antenna 410 when the external portion is worn on the recipient's body. For auditory prosthesis systems, device 400 may be implanted on and substantially parallel to a bone surface within the recipient's body (e.g., the surface of the skull on the auricle 110 or behind the auricle; the surface of the mastoid bone 119), and the external portion may be configured to be worn on the head, wherein at least one external MI antenna (e.g., on and / or behind the auricle 110) wirelessly communicates with at least one second MI antenna 410. The external portion of the transdermal system can be configured to be worn on the body portion 405 (e.g., the head) during the normal operating mode of the device 400, and configured to be removed from the recipient's body during the power delivery mode of the device 400 (e.g., during the recipient's sleep process), during which the device 300 supplies power to the device 400.

[0031] During the normal operating mode of device 400, at least one second MI antenna 410 (e.g., a second communication coil) can wirelessly communicate with at least one external MI antenna of the external portion, and during the power delivery mode, at least one second MI antenna 410 can wirelessly communicate with at least one first MI antenna 310. Device 400 may also include a circuit system 420 configured to receive data and / or control signals from the external portion of the transdermal system during normal operating mode and configured to receive power signals from device 300 during power delivery mode. Circuit system 420 may also be configured to receive / transmit data and / or control signals to / from device 300 during power delivery mode. In some embodiments, device 400 is configured to operate without an external portion during normal operating mode (e.g., a fully subcutaneous or fully implantable system) and is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one first MI antenna 310 during power delivery mode.

[0032] In some embodiments, device 400 is an implantable portion of a sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) (e.g., sleep apnea) treatment system, for which the normal operating mode is also the power delivery mode. For example, device 400 may be implanted in or within the recipient's jaw, neck, or shoulder region (e.g., where stimulating electrodes are located on, within, or near the recipient's tongue or hypoglossal nerve), and device 300 may be configured to provide data and / or control signals, in addition to electrical signals, to device 400 during the recipient's sleep process.

[0033] The circuitry 420 of device 400 may include a stimulation and / or measurement circuitry system comprising one or more active elements (e.g., stimulator unit 120; assembly 202; vibration actuator) configured to deliver stimulation (e.g., stimulation signals) to a portion of the recipient's body and / or detect attributes or conditions of the recipient's body. The device may be in electrical communication with that portion of the recipient's body via an electrical conduit (e.g., electrode assembly 118; return electrode) extending from device 400 to a region of the recipient's body. In some embodiments, circuitry 420 is configured to directly use power received by at least one second MI antenna 410. In some other embodiments, the circuit system 420 includes a power storage circuit system 422 (e.g., a battery; a capacitor) configured to receive and store power from at least one second MI antenna 410 during a first time period (e.g., when the device 400 is close to the device 300 and / or within the device's wireless communication range), and to provide the stored power to other parts of the circuit system 420 during a second time period after the first time period (e.g., when the device 400 is spaced apart from the device 300 and / or outside the device's wireless communication range).

[0034] In some embodiments, device 300 includes a housing 305, and at least one first MI antenna 310, at least one sensor 320, and control circuitry system 330 are housed (e.g., hermetically sealed) within the housing 305. The housing 305 may comprise an electrically insulating material (e.g., silicone rubber; polymer; polyetheretherketone (PEEK); ceramic; titanium oxide; glass fiber; parylene), which is substantially transparent to the electromagnetic or magnetic fields generated by the at least one first MI antenna 310 (e.g., such that the housing 305 does not significantly interfere with the transmission of power, data, and / or control signals between device 300 and apparatus 400).

[0035] As by Figure 3A-3G As schematically shown, housing 305 may include a substantially flat portion configured to be positioned beneath padding 307 (e.g., a pillow; mattress), padding 307 being configured to receive body portion 405, wherein at least a portion of padding 307 is between body portion 405 and at least one first MI antenna 310. For example, padding 307 may be a compressible pillow on which a recipient may (e.g., during sleep) rest their head, wherein the substantially flat portion of housing 305 is on the mattress and beneath padding 307. In some embodiments, device 300 includes padding 307, while in other embodiments, device 300 does not include padding 307 (e.g., but may be configured for use in conjunction with padding 307).

[0036] In some embodiments, at least one first MI antenna 310 includes a single, substantially flat first MI antenna 310 (e.g., a first communication coil), while in other embodiments, at least one first MI antenna 310 includes a plurality of substantially flat first MI antennas 310 (e.g., see...). Figure 2 The first MI antennas 310 can be positioned to overlap each other (see, for example, see...). Figure 2 The two first MI antennas 310a, b) may not overlap each other. At least some of the first MI antennas 310 may be substantially parallel or coplanar with each other, and at least some of the first MI antennas 310 may be substantially perpendicular to one or more other first MI antennas 310 (e.g., in two or three orthogonal orientations). For example, housing 305 may include other portions at non-zero angles relative to a substantially flat portion beneath pad 307, said other portions accommodating other first MI antennas 310 at non-zero angles (e.g., orthogonal) relative to at least one first MI antenna 310 within the substantially flat portion of housing 305. The first MI antennas 310 may be positioned around the area where body portion 405 and device 400 are to be placed (e.g., along two or more sides of that area).

[0037] Figures 4A-4F Various examples of first MI antennas 310 according to certain embodiments described herein are schematically shown. Figure 4A and 4B Perspective and top views of an example substantially circular first MI antenna 310 according to certain embodiments described herein are shown schematically, respectively. Figure 4C A perspective view of another example of a generally circular first MI antenna 310 according to some embodiments described herein is shown schematically. Figure 4D and 4E Perspective and top views of an example basic rectangular first MI antenna 310 according to certain embodiments described herein are shown schematically, respectively. Figure 4F A perspective view of another example of a basic rectangular first MI antenna 310 according to some embodiments described herein is shown schematically.

[0038] In some embodiments, at least one first MI antenna 310 includes at least one conductive and substantially flat first coil 312 configured to magnetically communicate with at least one second MI antenna 410 of the device 400 (e.g., a second communication coil). For example, at least one first coil 312 may include conductive wire (e.g., platinum, gold, copper, or other metal; electrically insulating single or multiple strands) having one or more loops wound around and substantially orthogonal to the antenna axis 314. For another example, the first coil 312 may include a metal trace (e.g., copper) having one or more loops on a flexible substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board) and extending (e.g., wound) around the antenna axis 314.

[0039] like Figures 4A-4B As shown in 4D-4E, the first coil 312 of the first MI antenna 310 may have coil loops (e.g., planar spirals) that are substantially coplanar with each other, and as... Figure 4C and 4F As shown, the coil loops can be substantially parallel to each other (e.g., spring-shaped). Although Figures 4A-4F A first coil 312 with three coil loops is shown, but other numbers of coil loops (e.g., 2, 4, 5, 6 or more) and other shapes (e.g., oval, oblong, bean-shaped, kidney-shaped, or others) are also compatible with some embodiments described herein. In some embodiments of the device 300 including a plurality of first MI antennas 310 having a plurality of first coils 312, the first coils 312 may comprise the same number of coil loops as each other and the coil loops may have substantially equal widths and / or shapes as each other, while in some other embodiments, two or more of the first MI antennas 310 may have first coils 312 with different numbers of coil loops, coil loop widths, and / or shapes as each other.

[0040] The first coil 312 may have a lateral dimension (e.g., diameter, length, and / or width along a direction substantially perpendicular to the antenna axis 314) of less than or equal to 500 mm (e.g., in the range of less than 100 mm; in the range of 15 mm to 60 mm; in the range of 50 mm to 200 mm; in the range of 100 mm to 300 mm; in the range of greater than 100 mm; in the range of 125 mm to 250 mm; in the range of greater than 300 mm). In some embodiments, the first coil 312 has at least one lateral dimension substantially equal to or greater than at least one lateral dimension of at least one second MI antenna 410 of the device 400 (e.g., 1.2, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more times it).

[0041] In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 is configured to detect at least one aspect of the environment of the device 300 and apparatus 400. As described herein, at least one aspect of the environment affects the efficiency of power transfer from device 300 to apparatus and / or the amount of energy absorbed by the body of a recipient originating from at least one first MI antenna 310. The absorbed energy may be electromagnetic radiation energy or energy generated by an electric or magnetic field. For example, the detected at least one aspect may include the presence, location, and / or at least one property (e.g., thickness; compressibility; dielectric constant) of a pad 307 between body part 405 and at least one first MI antenna 310. For another example, the at least one aspect may include a gap (e.g., distance) between at least one first MI antenna 310 and body part 405. For another example, the at least one aspect may include the extent (e.g., location and size, such as height, width, thickness, or volume) of tissue of the recipient's body (e.g., tissue of another body part 406 not implanted with apparatus 400) within the power transfer range of at least one first MI antenna 310. In another example of the device 300 being configured to operate when between a body portion 405 and a surface (e.g., the device 300 is on the top surface of the mattress and the body portion 405 is above the device 300), the at least one aspect may include the orientation of the device 300 relative to the surface.

[0042] In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 is configured to generate at least one sensor signal 322 indicating at least one aspect of the detected environment (e.g., multiple sensors 320 configured to generate sensor signals 322 indicating multiple aspects of the environment). At least one sensor 320 may include one or more of the following: accelerometer, gyroscope, tilt sensor, inclinometer, pressure sensor, capacitance sensor, impedance sensor, radio frequency (RF) reflectometer sensor, ultra-wideband (UWB) radar sensor, millimeter-wave radar sensor, thermal sensor, infrared, ultraviolet, or visible light sensor, ultrasonic sensor, biometric sensor, radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor, and near field communication (NFC) sensor. In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 includes multiple sensors 320 distributed throughout the device 300 (e.g., above the surface of the housing 305), while in some other embodiments, at least one sensor 320 includes a single sensor 320 (e.g., located near an area where multiple first coils 312 of at least one first MI antenna 310 overlap with each other).

[0043] In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 is configured to generate at least one sensor signal 322 indicating the presence, location, and / or at least one attribute of the pad 307 between the body portion 405 and at least one first MI antenna 310. For example, at least one sensor 320 may include at least one ultrasonic sensor configured to detect the pad 307 and / or the attributes of the pad 307 (e.g., the thickness of the pad 307 between the body portion 405 and at least one first MI antenna 310). For another example, at least one sensor 320 may include at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor (e.g., a reader) or at least one near field communication (NFC) sensor (e.g., a reader) configured to receive information from at least one RFID or NFC tag on or within the pad 307. At least one RFID or NFC tag may include information about at least one attribute of the pad 307 (e.g., material; compressibility; stiffness; rigidity; softness; hardness; dielectric constant; minimum thickness; maximum thickness).

[0044] In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 is configured to generate at least one sensor signal 322 indicating the extent of the gap between at least one first MI antenna 310 and body portion 405 and / or the extent of the recipient's tissue within the power transmission range of at least one MI antenna 310. The extent of the recipient's tissue may include the location (e.g., distance), dimensional dimensions (e.g., height, width, thickness, volume), and / or orientation (e.g., relative to at least one first MI antenna 310) of the body portion 405 of the implanted device 400 (e.g., head) and / or another body portion 406 of the non-implanted device 400 (e.g., arm; hand). For example, at least one sensor 320 may include at least one UWB radar sensor (e.g., the X4 UWB short-range pulse radar transceiver system-on-a-chip sensor available from Novelda Oslo, Norway) and / or at least one millimeter-wave radar sensor (e.g., a 24 GHz human presence sensing module). For another example, at least one sensor 320 may include at least one capacitive sensor (e.g., the MS889X series capacitive sensor available from Microdul AG, Zurich, Switzerland). Capacitive sensors can provide sufficient accuracy by operating based on the detection of the dielectric constant of tissue (e.g., ε > 20), which is higher than the dielectric constant of air (e.g., ε = 1) and the dielectric constant of padding materials (e.g., ε < 4). Other example sensors 320 compatible with some embodiments described herein include, but are not limited to: human body detection sensors; acoustic sensors; pressure sensors; ultrasonic sensors; impedance sensors; radio frequency (RF) reflectometer sensors; biometric sensors; thermal sensors; infrared sensors (e.g., grid-EYE infrared array sensors) and / or ultraviolet or visible light sensors (e.g., sensors configured to identify the shape of human body parts). In some embodiments, at least one sensor signal 322 generated by at least one sensor 320 indicates the presence, location, and / or orientation of tissue relative to at least one first MI antenna 310 when the tissue is substantially still (e.g., the tissue does not need to move to be detected by at least one sensor 320).

[0045] In some embodiments, the device 300 is configured to operate when positioned between a body portion 405 and a surface (e.g., the device 300 is on the top surface of a mattress and the body portion 405 is on or above the device 300), and at least one sensor 320 is configured to generate at least one sensor signal 322 indicating the orientation of the device 300 relative to the surface. For example, at least one first MI antenna 310 may be asymmetrically positioned within a substantially flat portion of a housing 305 having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein at least one first MI antenna 310 is closer to the first side than to the second side (e.g., to provide a minimum gap distance between at least one first MI antenna 310 and the recipient's tissue). The distance between at least one first MI antenna 310 and the device 400 may depend on the orientation of the housing 305 relative to an underlying surface (e.g., a mattress). At least one sensor 320 may be configured to detect the orientation of the housing 305 and may be selected from the group consisting of at least one accelerometer; at least one gyroscope; at least one tilt sensor; and at least one inclinometer. At least one sensor signal 322 can indicate whether the first or second side of that portion of housing 305 is closer to body portion 405 (e.g., whether the first or second side of that portion of housing 305 is on the mattress below housing 305).

[0046] In some embodiments, the control circuitry system 330 includes one or more microprocessors (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits; general-purpose integrated circuits programmed with software having computer-executable instructions; microelectronic circuitry systems; microcontrollers) and at least one storage device (e.g., at least one tangible or non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; read-only memory; random access memory; flash memory), said at least one storage device being configured to store information (e.g., data; commands) accessed by the one or more microprocessors during operation. The at least one storage device may be encoded with software (e.g., a computer program downloaded as an application) including computer-executable instructions (e.g., executable data access logic, evaluation logic, and / or information output logic) for instructing the one or more microprocessors. In some embodiments, the one or more microprocessors execute the instructions of the software to provide the functionality described herein. In some embodiments, the control circuitry system 330 includes a communication circuitry system (e.g., an RF antenna; a Bluetooth antenna) configured to receive data and / or control signals from external devices (e.g., smartphones; smart tablets; smartwatches; other remote devices operated by a receiver) and / or transmit data signals to external devices.

[0047] In some embodiments, the control circuitry 330 includes at least one coil driver 332 configured to provide at least one current 316 to at least one first MI antenna 310. In some other embodiments, the at least one coil driver 332 is separate from the control circuitry 330 but responds to control signals from the control circuitry 330. The control circuitry 330 (e.g., via the at least one coil driver 332 responding to control signals from the control circuitry 330) may be configured to adjust at least one current 316 flowing through at least one first coil 312 of at least one first MI antenna 310 in response to at least one sensor signal 322. For example, in response to at least one sensor signal 322 received from at least one sensor 320, the control circuitry 330 may adjust at least one current 316 flowing through at least one first coil 312 (e.g., at least one magnitude, at least one phase, and / or at least one frequency of at least one current 316). By adjusting at least one current 316, the control circuit system 330 can adjust the power level transmitted by at least one first coil 312 (e.g., adjust at least one current 316 flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310 to be less than a predetermined threshold level).

[0048] In some embodiments, device 300 is configured to, when activating device 300 and / or initiating a power delivery mode, simultaneously (e.g., transdermally) deliver power, data, and / or control signals to device 400 and / or (e.g., transdermally) receive data and / or control signals from device 400 while body part 405 is in multiple positions and / or orientations relative to device 300. During power delivery mode, both the rate of power delivery from device 300 to device 400 and the recipient's body's exposure to electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields from device 300 depend on various aspects of the environment surrounding device 300 and device 400. For example, the rate of power delivery and / or the amount of field exposure may depend on the relative distance and / or orientation of at least one first MI antenna 310 of device 300 relative to at least one second MI antenna 410 of device 400, the presence of an intermediary material (e.g., tissue material; padding material) between at least one first MI antenna 310 and at least one second MI antenna 410, and the electrical and magnetic properties of any such intermediary material.

[0049] At least some aspects of the environment of device 300 and apparatus 400 may be static (e.g., not significantly changing during power delivery mode / sleep process and / or between different iterations of power delivery mode / sleep process). Examples of static environmental aspects include, but are not limited to: the physical dimensions of the receiver and / or body portion 405; the location of at least one second MI antenna 410 on or within the body portion 405; the physical dimensions and properties of at least one first MI antenna 310 and / or at least one second MI antenna 410; and the physical dimensions of device 300 (e.g., the location of at least one first MI antenna 310 relative to housing 305).

[0050] Additionally, at least some aspects of the environment of device 300 and apparatus 400 may be variable (e.g., significantly varying during and / or between different iterations of the power delivery mode / sleep process). These variations may be due to movement of the receiver and / or device 300 or the use of different pads 307. Examples of variable environmental aspects include, but are not limited to: the distance and / or orientation of body part 405 relative to device 300; the distance and / or orientation of at least one second MI antenna 410 relative to at least one first MI antenna 310; the presence and / or amount of intervening material (e.g., tissue material; padding material) between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 (e.g., the thickness of the pad 307 between body part 405 and device 300; the arm and / or hand of the receiver moving near device 300).

[0051] In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 is configured to detect one or more aspects of these environmental aspects (e.g., at least one changing aspect; at least one unchanging aspect) and provide a sensor signal 322 indicative of these environmental aspects to the control circuitry system 330. To compensate for any changes in environmental aspects affecting the rate of power transfer from device 300 to apparatus 400 (e.g., by attenuating or absorbing a larger share of power originating from device 300, thereby reducing the electrical power received by at least one second MI antenna 410), the control circuitry system 330 may adjust (e.g., change the magnitude, phase, and / or frequency) at least one current 316 flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310 to achieve an optimal power transfer rate.

[0052] However, such adjustments may also increase the field exposure of various tissue portions of the receiver near device 300 to electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields originating from device 300. This field exposure may have physical effects on the tissue (e.g., stimulation; heating), and for sufficiently high field values, these physical effects may be harmful (e.g., causing injury and / or discomfort to the receiver). In some embodiments, control circuitry 330 is also configured to adjust at least one current 316 flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310 such that the transmitted power level is reduced (e.g., to avoid) this harmful physical effect.

[0053] These harmful physical effects can be characterized by one or more medical safety regulatory standards for the recipient's body exposure to electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields. Examples of medical safety regulatory standards compatible with some of the embodiments described herein include, but are not limited to: specific absorption rate (SAR) standards; nerve stimulation (NS) standards; and tissue heating (TH) standards. A SAR value can be defined as the average energy deposition (e.g., absorption) rate per unit mass of body tissue when exposed to a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field, magnetic field, or electric field (e.g., in W / kg). A NS value can be defined as the level of electric field (e.g., voltage gradient) induced within a body part by exposure to an electric and / or magnetic field (e.g., at frequencies from 3 kHz to 10 MHz). For sufficiently strong induced electric fields, the resting membrane potential of tissue may lead to spontaneous depolarization of the membrane and the generation of spurious action potentials. A TH value can be defined as the level of thermal heating induced within a body part by exposure to an electromagnetic, electric, and / or magnetic field (e.g., at frequencies from 100 kHz to 300 GHz), where sufficient temperature elevation may result in physiologically significant effects. The TH value can be determined using a thermal dose parameter (e.g., CEM43), which uses a tissue model to quantify the effects of heating.

[0054] In some embodiments, to suppress (e.g., avoid) potentially harmful physical effects due to operation of device 300 during power delivery modes (e.g., during the recipient's sleep process), control circuitry 330 is configured to access a predetermined threshold level (e.g., a maximum level corresponding to a predetermined medical safety regulatory standard for field exposure to the recipient's body) to set an upper limit on power originating from device 300 (e.g., to set an upper limit on at least one current 316 flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310). In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 is configured to detect at least one aspect of the environment (e.g., at least one changing aspect; at least one unchanging aspect) and generate at least one sensor signal 322 indicating at least one detected aspect of the environment, and control circuitry 330 is configured to maintain at least one current 316 flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310 below a predetermined threshold level in response to at least one detected aspect of the environment of device 300 and apparatus 400 (e.g., in response to at least one sensor signal 322),

[0055] In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 can detect at least one environmental aspect and can generate at least one sensor signal 322 indicating at least one detected environmental aspect. The control circuitry 330 can use information from the at least one sensor signal 322 and other previously stored information (e.g., stored in a data storage device of the control circuitry 330 or in an external device communicating with the control circuitry 330) to calculate the transmitted power level for transmitting power to the device 400 at an optimal (e.g., maximized) power delivery rate while maintaining field exposure at a level that complies with predetermined medical safety regulatory standards.

[0056] like Figures 3A-3E As shown, during sleep or between different sleep processes, different surfaces of the body part 405 can rest on a pad 307 between the body part 405 (e.g., the head) and the device 300, wherein the body part 405 is in different positions and / or orientations and the pad 307 has different thicknesses during sleep. Although Figures 3A-3E At least one first MI antenna 310 is schematically shown as comprising at least one substantially flat antenna coil 312, and at least one second MI antenna 410 is schematically shown as comprising at least one substantially flat antenna coil 412. Other shapes and dimensions of the first antenna coil 312 and the second antenna coil 412 are also compatible with some embodiments described herein. Although Figures 3A-3E Some specific example configurations of body portion 405 relative to device 300 are shown, but other configurations (e.g., intermediate configurations of body portion 405 relative to device 300 in other positions and / or orientations) are also possible.

[0057] In these various configurations, the distance and / or orientation of at least one second MI antenna 410 relative to at least one first MI antenna 310 can vary (e.g., depending on which surface of body part 405 rests on pad 307), and the amount of tissue material and pad material between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 can also vary. The coupling coefficient between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 also varies depending on these environmental aspects. The control circuitry system 330 can receive sensor signals 322 indicating the detected aspect in real time and can use information about the detected aspect and other aspects to calculate, in real time (e.g., dynamically), the optimal power level to be transmitted by at least one first MI antenna 310. The control circuitry system 330 can also adjust at least one current 316 to provide an optimal power delivery rate to device 400 while keeping the field exposure of the recipient's tissue below a maximum level that meets predetermined medical safety regulatory standards.

[0058] Figures 3A-3C An example configuration of a body portion 405 (e.g., a head) relative to a device 300 is schematically shown according to certain embodiments described herein. In this example configuration, a first surface of the body portion 405 (e.g., the rear side of the head) rests on a pad 307. At least one second MI antenna 410 may be substantially perpendicular to the first surface and substantially parallel to the second surface (e.g., the left side of the head), and may be substantially perpendicular to at least one first MI antenna 310.

[0059] In this configuration, the body portion 405 can be positioned and oriented in various ways relative to the device 300, such that at least one second MI antenna 410 can be positioned and oriented in various ways relative to at least one first MI antenna 310. For example... Figure 3A As shown, at least one second MI antenna 410 may have a first positioning coordinate 430a along a first direction 432a substantially parallel to at least one first MI antenna 310 and a second positioning coordinate 430b along a second direction 432b substantially parallel to at least one first MI antenna 310 and substantially perpendicular to the first direction 432a. The first and second positioning coordinates 430a, b may vary due to movement of the body portion 405 throughout the device 300. Figure 3B As shown, at least one second MI antenna 410 may also have a third positioning coordinate 430c along a third direction 432c substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions 432a, b. The third positioning coordinate 430c may vary due to the varying thickness of the pad 307 between the body portion 405 and the device 300. Figure 3CAs shown, at least one second MI antenna 410 may have multiple orientations relative to at least one first MI antenna 310 due to the orientation of the body portion 405 relative to the device 300 (e.g., while remaining substantially perpendicular to at least one first MI antenna 310).

[0060] exist Figures 3A-3C In the first and second positioning coordinates 430a and b, there is a range of possible values ​​at which the first surface of the body portion 405 rests on the pad 307 or on the housing 305 (e.g., without the pad 307). The third positioning coordinate 430c has a range of possible values, which has a lower limit that is substantially equal to a first fixed distance (e.g., in the range of 60 mm to 90 mm) between at least one second MI antenna 410 and the first surface (e.g., corresponding to a minimum pad thickness of zero in the absence of the pad 307), and may have an upper limit that is substantially equal to the sum of the fixed first distance and the maximum pad thickness (e.g., in the range of 25 mm to 100 mm).

[0061] Figure 3D and 3E Two other example configurations of the body portion 405 according to certain embodiments described herein are illustrated schematically. Figures 3A-3C That's the configuration. Figure 3D and 3E At least one second MI antenna 410 in the configuration can be positioned in multiple locations with first, second, and third positioning coordinates 430a, b, and c respectively on first, second, and third orientations 432a, b, and c, and the body portion 405 can have different orientations relative to the device 300. Figure 3D and 3E In the configuration, at least one second MI antenna 410 is substantially parallel to the second and third surfaces (e.g., the right side of the head) and substantially parallel to at least one first MI antenna 310.

[0062] exist Figure 3D In the middle, the second surface of the body part 405 (e.g., the left side of the head) rests on the pad 307. Figure 3D In the configuration, the ranges of the first and second positioning coordinates 430a and b may be the same as... Figures 3A-3C In the configuration, the ranges of the first and second positioning coordinates 430a and b are basically the same. However, Figure 3D In the configuration, the range of the third positioning coordinate 430c may be consistent with... Figures 3A-3C The corresponding ranges in the configurations are basically different. Figure 3DThe range of the third positioning coordinate 430c of the configuration can have a lower limit substantially equal to a second fixed distance (e.g., in the range of 4 mm to 10 mm; less than the first fixed distance) between at least one second MI antenna 410 and the second surface (e.g., corresponding to a minimum pad thickness of zero in the absence of pad 307), and can have an upper limit substantially equal to the sum of the fixed second distance and the maximum pad thickness. Therefore, at least one second MI antenna 410 is generally in... Figure 3B In the configuration compared to Figure 3D In the configuration, it is farther away from at least one first MI antenna 310.

[0063] exist Figure 3E In the middle, the third surface of the body part 405 (e.g., the right side of the head) rests on the pad 307. Figure 3E In the configuration, the ranges of the first and second positioning coordinates 430a and b may be the same as... Figures 3A-3C In the configuration, the ranges of the first and second positioning coordinates 430a and b are basically the same. However, Figure 3E In the configuration, the range of the third positioning coordinate 430c may be consistent with... Figures 3A-3C configuration and Figure 3D The corresponding ranges in the configurations are basically different. Figure 3E The range of the third positioning coordinate 430c of the configuration can have a lower limit substantially equal to a third fixed distance (e.g., in the range of 120mm to 180mm; greater than the first and second fixed distances) between at least one second MI antenna 410 and the third surface (e.g., corresponding to a minimum pad thickness of zero in the absence of pad 307), and can have an upper limit substantially equal to the sum of the fixed third distance and the maximum pad thickness. Therefore, at least one second MI antenna 410 is generally in... Figure 3E In the configuration compared to Figure 3B In the configuration, it is farther away from at least one first MI antenna 310.

[0064] Moreover, such as Figure 3B , 3D As shown in Figure 3E, the orientation of at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 about the second direction 432b can vary depending on the surface on which the body portion 405 rests on the pad 307. When at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 are substantially parallel to each other, the coupling coefficient between them is generally larger; when they are substantially perpendicular, the coupling coefficient is generally smaller. Furthermore, as... Figure 3CAs shown, the relative orientation of at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 with respect to a third direction 432c can depend on the orientation of the body portion 405 relative to the device 300. The coupling coefficient can also depend on the relative orientation with respect to the third direction 432c.

[0065] In addition, such as Figure 3B , 3D As shown in Figure 3E, the space between at least one second MI antenna 410 and the top surface of the housing 305 may include different materials in varying proportions. For example, the distance between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 may include a tissue length extending through the recipient's tissue and a pad length extending through the pad 307. Figure 3B As shown, the tissue length and the pad length can be approximately equal to each other, while... Figure 3D As shown, the tissue length can be significantly smaller than the pad length, and as... Figure 3E As shown, the tissue length can be significantly greater than the padding length. The recipient's tissue can generally absorb more electromagnetic radiation energy or energy generated by electric or magnetic fields than the padding material. Therefore, the different proportions of tissue material and padding material between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 can affect not only the power transfer rate but also the field exposure of the recipient's body.

[0066] In some embodiments, the relative distance between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 also depends on the location and / or orientation of other body parts of the receiver. For example, as Figure 3F As shown, the receiver may move another body part 406 (e.g., an arm; a hand) to position it between body part 405 (e.g., a head) and pad 307. In addition to affecting the distance and / or orientation of at least one second MI antenna 410 relative to at least one first MI antenna 310, the body part 406 in this position may also absorb at least some of the power derived from device 300, and therefore the body part 406 may affect field exposure to be taken into account when determining the level of transmitted power (e.g., at least one current 316).

[0067] In some implementations, device 300 can operate in multiple orientations relative to the environment. For example, device 300 may include a first surface and a second surface substantially opposite the first surface, and at least one first MI antenna 310 may be positioned within device 300 closer to the second surface than to the first surface. In the first orientation (e.g., see...), Figure 3B and 3D-3F), the device 300 can be operated with the first surface acting as a bottom surface resting on the lower element (e.g., a mattress) and the second surface acting as a top surface on which the pad 307 and / or body part 405 rest. In the second orientation (see, for example, see...) Figure 3G The device 300 can be flipped relative to the first orientation, such that the second surface acts as the bottom surface and the first surface acts as the top surface, and at least one first MI antenna 310 is further away from the body portion 405 (e.g., and at least one second MI antenna 410). As a result, the relative distance between at least one first MI antenna 310 and at least one second MI antenna 410 can depend on the orientation of the device 300 relative to the environment.

[0068] In some implementations, the information contained in at least one sensor signal 322 can be used by the control circuitry system 330 to determine the expected coupling coefficient between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 and / or the expected field exposure of the receiver’s tissue, based on at least one current 316 flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310. Examples of such information include, but are not limited to: the configuration of the body portion 405 (e.g., the side where the head rests on the pad 307); the positioning of the body portion 405 along the first, second, and / or third orientations 432a, b, c; the orientation of the body portion 405 with respect to the second and / or third orientations 432b, c; the thickness of the pad 307 in the third orientation 432c (e.g., minimum thickness; maximum thickness); the proportion of tissue material and pad material between the body portion 405 and the device 300; (e.g., when the pad 307 is not a part of the device 300) at least one property of the material of the pad 307 (e.g., identity, type, compressibility, stiffness, softness, hardness, and / or dielectric constant); and the orientation of the housing 305 relative to the underlying surface (e.g., a mattress).

[0069] In some embodiments, the control circuitry 330 is configured to access stored information that the control circuitry 330 can use to determine, based on at least one current 316, the expected coupling coefficient between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 and / or the expected field exposure of the receiver's tissue. Examples of such stored information include, but are not limited to: the size and / or other parameters (e.g., head size) of at least one first MI antenna 310, at least one second MI antenna 410 and / or body portion 405; the position of at least one second MI antenna 410 relative to body portion 405 and the position of at least one sensor 320 relative to at least one first MI antenna 310 (e.g., used in conjunction with the detected positioning of body portion 405 relative to at least one sensor 320 to determine the positioning of at least one second MI antenna 410 relative to at least one first MI antenna 310); and (e.g., when the pad 307 is a component of device 300) at least one property of the material of the pad 307 (e.g., identity, type, compressibility, softness, hardness and / or dielectric constant).

[0070] In some embodiments, the control circuitry 330 is configured to determine the magnitude, phase, and / or frequency of at least one current 316 using information received from at least one sensor signal 322 and accessed stored information to achieve an optimal power transfer rate from device 300 to apparatus 400. The control circuitry 330 may take into account different coupling coefficients between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310 in different configurations, as well as different absorption properties of any intermediary material between at least one second MI antenna 410 and at least one first MI antenna 310. In some embodiments where at least one first MI antenna 310 includes a plurality of first coils 312, the control circuitry 330 is configured to use beamforming techniques (e.g., adjusting the magnitude, phase, and / or frequency of the current 316 flowing through the plurality of first coils 312 to guide electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields in a direction toward at least one second MI antenna 410) while maintaining field exposure to comply with predetermined medical safety regulatory standards.

[0071] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of an example method 500 for operating device 300 according to certain embodiments described herein. Although by reference... Figure 2 , Figure 3A-3G and Figures 4A-4F The method 500 is described using some of the structures in the example device 300, but other devices and systems with other configurations of components may also be used to perform the method 500 according to some of the embodiments described herein.

[0072] In operation block 510, method 500 includes wirelessly transmitting power from a power source (e.g., device 300) to a device (e.g., device 400) implanted within or on a part of the recipient's body (e.g., body part 405) of the recipient's body, the device being inductively coupled to the power source. For example, as Figure 3A-3G As shown, the device may include an implant portion of an acoustic prosthesis system positioned on the recipient's head, and the pad may include a liner 307 (e.g., a pillow) on which the head rests during the wireless power transmission (e.g., during the recipient's sleep process).

[0073] In operation block 520, method 500 further includes generating information related to the recipient's body exposure to electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields generated by the power source while wirelessly transmitting power from the power source to the device. For example, this information may include at least one of the following: the presence and / or location of a pad (e.g., pad 307) between the power source and the recipient's body, at least one property of the pad between the power source and the recipient's body, the gap between the power source (e.g., at least one first MI antenna 310) and the body portion 405, and the extent to which the recipient's body is within the power transmission range of the power source. Generating this information may include receiving at least one signal (e.g., sensor signal 322) from at least one sensor (e.g., sensor 320) of the power source. In some embodiments, wirelessly transmitting power and collecting sensor information are performed using different time slots. For example, at least one sensor 320 may be activated in a time division multiple access (TDMA) scheme with at least one MI antenna 310 to mitigate (e.g., avoid) potential reductions in sensor sensitivity and / or accuracy caused by simultaneous sensing and power transmission.

[0074] For example, refer to Figures 3A-3BAt a point during the power delivery mode / sleep process, the recipient's head may be oriented relative to device 300 such that the rear surface of the recipient's head rests on pad 307. Control circuitry 330 can receive detected information about one or more aspects of the detected environment in real time (e.g., via sensor signal 322 from at least one sensor 320) and can access stored information (e.g., from a data storage device) about other environmental aspects. For example, at least one sensor 320 can dynamically detect the orientation of the head relative to device 300, the distance between at least one sensor 320 and the rear surface of the recipient's head, and / or the thickness of pad 307, and can provide sensor signal 322 indicating these aspects of the detected environment to control circuitry 330 in real time. Control circuitry 330 can access stored information about the positioning of at least one first MI antenna 310 relative to at least one sensor 320 and the distance between the rear surface of the recipient's head and at least one second MI antenna 410, and can use the detected and accessed information to calculate the distance and orientation between at least one first MI antenna 310 and at least one second MI antenna 410 in real time. Additionally, the control circuitry 330 can access stored information about the spatial distribution of the field and / or power transmitted from at least one first MI antenna 310 (e.g., the power transmission range of at least one first MI antenna 310) to calculate in real time the power transfer rate from at least one first MI antenna 310 to at least one second MI antenna 410 and the field exposure of the recipient's tissue based on the current 316 flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310. The control circuitry 330 can access stored information about predetermined medical safety regulatory standards for field exposure to the recipient's tissue and can dynamically determine the optimal power level to be transmitted from at least one first MI antenna 310 to at least one second MI antenna 410 at that moment during the power transfer mode / sleep process (e.g., the maximum power level at which field exposure meets predetermined medical safety regulatory standards or the current flowing through at least one first MI antenna 310).

[0075] In operation block 530, method 500 further includes, in response to the information, adjusting the power transmitted from the power source to the device such that the electric field, magnetic field, and / or electromagnetic field conform to predetermined medical safety regulatory standards for exposure to the recipient's body. For example, control circuitry system 330 may adjust the transmitted power level to a determined optimal power level.

[0076] In some implementations, generating this information can be performed periodically (e.g., at regular intervals) to detect changes that have occurred during a power delivery mode (e.g., a sleep process), and adjusting the delivered power can be performed periodically in response to the periodically generated information. For example, at other times during a power delivery mode / sleep process, the recipient may move to a different position and / or orientation while the posterior surface of the head remains resting on pad 307 (e.g., see...). Figure 3C ), or rest on other surfaces on pad 307 (e.g., see Figure 3D and 3E The thickness of the pad 307 may vary due to the movement of the receiver, which may move other tissue portions into the power transmission range of at least one first MI antenna 310 (e.g., see...). Figure 3G ), etc. By periodically detecting the environment and accessing the corresponding stored information as appropriate during the power transmission mode / sleep process, the control circuit system 330 can determine and maintain the optimal level of transmitted power throughout the entire power transmission mode / sleep process, even if the receiver moves.

[0077] While common terminology is used to describe systems and methods of certain embodiments for ease of understanding, these terms are used herein for their broadest reasonable interpretation. Although various aspects of this disclosure are described with respect to illustrative examples and embodiments, the disclosed examples and embodiments should not be construed as limiting. Unless otherwise specifically stated, or understood otherwise in the context used, conditional language such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may” is generally intended to convey that a particular embodiment includes a particular feature, element, and / or step, while other embodiments do not. Therefore, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that features, elements, and / or steps are required in any way for one or more embodiments, or to imply that one or more embodiments must include logic for determining whether such features, elements, and / or steps are included in or will be performed in any particular embodiment, with or without user input or prompting. Specifically, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to an element, component, or step in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced element, component, or step may be present in or utilize other elements, components, or steps not expressly referenced, or may be combined with such other elements, components, or steps.

[0078] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not mutually exclusive and can be combined with each other in various arrangements. Furthermore, although the disclosed methods and apparatus are described largely in the context of various devices, the various embodiments described herein can be incorporated into a variety of other suitable devices, methods, and contexts. More generally, as will be understood, certain embodiments described herein can be used in the context of various implantable medical devices that can benefit from certain properties described herein.

[0079] As used herein, degree language such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “roughly,” and “substantially” indicates a value, quantity, or characteristic that is close to the stated value, quantity, or characteristic while still performing the desired function or achieving the desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “roughly,” and “substantially” can refer to a quantity within ±10%, ±5%, ±2%, ±1%, or ±0.1% of the stated quantity. As another example, the terms “roughly parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, quantity, or characteristic that deviates from exact parallelism by ±10, ±5, ±2, ±1, or ±0.1 degrees, and the terms “roughly perpendicular” and “substantially perpendicular” refer to a value, quantity, or characteristic that deviates from exact perpendicularity by ±10, ±5, ±2, ±1, or ±0.1 degrees. The scope of this disclosure also covers any and all overlapping, subscopes, and combinations thereof. Language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “between,” etc., includes the enumerated numbers. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, “a / an” and “the” have the meaning of the plural. Additionally, as used in the description herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, “in” has the meaning of “towards” and “on”.

[0080] Although the methods and systems are discussed in this paper based on elements marked by ordinal adjectives (e.g., first, second, etc.), ordinal adjectives are used only as markers to distinguish one element from another (e.g., one signal from another signal, or one circuit from another circuit), and ordinal adjectives are not used to indicate the order of these elements or their order of use.

[0081] The invention described and claimed herein is not limited in scope to the specific exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, as these embodiments are intended to illustrate, rather than limit, several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention. In fact, various modifications in form and detail of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art based on the foregoing description, in addition to those shown and described herein. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the claims. The breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited to any of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, but should be defined only by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: At least one first magnetic induction MI antenna, the at least one first MI antenna being configured to wirelessly transmit power to at least one second MI antenna of a device within or on the body part of the receiver; At least one sensor, said at least one sensor being configured to generate at least one sensor signal; as well as A control circuitry system electrically communicating with the at least one first MI antenna and the at least one sensor is configured to determine at least one of the following in response to the at least one sensor signal: The presence, location, and / or at least one attribute of the pad between the body portion and the at least one first MI antenna. The gap between the at least one first MI antenna and the body part, and The extent to which the receiver's organization is within the power transmission range of the at least one first MI antenna. The control circuit system is also configured to adjust the power level transmitted by the at least one first MI antenna in response to the at least one sensor signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry includes at least one coil driver configured to provide at least one current to the at least one first MI antenna.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the at least one current flowing through the at least one first MI antenna to a level less than a predetermined threshold in response to the at least one sensor signal.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the predetermined threshold level corresponds to a maximum level that meets predetermined medical safety regulatory standards for exposure to the recipient.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined medical safety regulatory standard includes at least one of the following: specific absorption rate (SAR) standard, nerve stimulation (NS) standard, and tissue heating standard.

6. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the control circuit system is further configured to adjust at least one magnitude, at least one phase, and / or at least one frequency of the at least one current in response to the at least one sensor signal.

7. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of: accelerometer, gyroscope, tilt sensor, inclinometer, pressure sensor, capacitance sensor, impedance sensor, radio frequency (RF) reflectometer sensor, ultra-wideband (UWB) radar sensor, millimeter-wave radar sensor, thermal sensor, infrared, ultraviolet or visible light sensor, ultrasonic sensor, biometric sensor, radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor, near field communication (NFC) sensor.

8. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor signal is generated when the body part and / or the tissue is substantially still.

9. The device according to any of the preceding claims further includes a substantially flat housing portion accommodating the at least one first MI antenna, the housing portion having a first side and a second side, the at least one first MI antenna being closer to the first side than to the second side, wherein the at least one sensor signal indicates whether the first side or the second side of the housing portion is closer to the body portion.

10. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor signal indicates the presence and / or location of the pad, or indicates the at least one attribute of the pad, the at least one sensor comprising at least one RFID sensor or at least one NFC sensor.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one property includes at least one of the following: thickness, compressibility, dielectric constant.

12. A method comprising: Wirelessly transmits power from a power source to a device on or implanted in the recipient's body, the device being inductively coupled to the power source; While wirelessly transmitting power from the power source to the device, information is generated related to the recipient's body's exposure to the electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields generated by the power source. as well as In response to the information, the power transmitted from the power source to the device is adjusted such that the electric field, the magnetic field, and / or the electromagnetic field conform to predetermined medical safety regulatory standards for exposure to the recipient's body.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information includes at least one of the following: the presence and / or location of a pad between the power source and the body of the recipient, at least one property of the pad between the power source and the body of the recipient, the gap between the power transmitting antenna of the power source and the device, and the extent to which the body of the recipient is within the power transmission range of the power source.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the device includes an implant portion of an acoustic prosthesis system positioned on the head of the recipient, and the pad includes a liner on which the head rests during the wireless transmission of the power.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein generating the information comprises receiving at least one sensor signal from at least one sensor of the power source.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the wireless transmission of the power and the generation of the information are performed using different time slots.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless transmission of the power and the generation of the information are performed using Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA).

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program instructing a computer system to perform the method according to any one of claims 12 to 17.

19. An apparatus comprising: At least one first antenna coil, the at least one first antenna coil being configured to receive at least one current, the at least one current being configured to flow through the at least one first antenna coil to transmit power transdermally to at least one second antenna coil of a device within or on tissue portions of the recipient's body; At least one sensor, the at least one sensor being configured to generate at least one first signal indicating the presence, type, and / or thickness of a pad between the tissue portion of the receiver's body and the at least one first antenna coil; as well as A circuit system configured to adjust the at least one current in response to the at least one first signal.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust the at least one current to maintain the transmitted power level by the at least one first antenna coil at a level below a threshold level that meets medical safety regulatory standards for electromagnetic exposure to the body of the recipient.

21. The device of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to generate at least one second signal indicating the presence, location, and / or orientation of the tissue portion of the recipient's body and / or another tissue portion of the recipient's body, and the circuitry is configured to adjust the at least one current in response to the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal.

22. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the circuit system is configured to adjust the at least one current in real time in response to the at least one first signal.

23. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the means is an implant portion of an acoustic prosthesis system positioned on the surface of the recipient's skull.

24. An apparatus comprising: A housing having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the housing being configured in a first orientation in which the first surface is on a lower support surface and the second surface contacts a receiver or a pad below the receiver, or in a second orientation in which the second surface is on a lower support surface and the first surface contacts the receiver or the pad below the receiver. At least one power transmission coil is located within the housing, the at least one power transmission coil being positioned closer to the second surface than to the first surface, and being configured to transmit power to a device on or inside the recipient. The sensor on or inside the housing is configured to generate a sensor signal indicating whether the housing is in the first orientation or the second orientation; as well as The circuitry system within the housing and in electrical communication with the at least one power transmission coil is configured to adjust at least one current flowing through the at least one power transmission coil in response to the sensor signal.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising the pad that contacts the housing, wherein the device is implanted in the head of the recipient, and the pad is configured to be between the head and the housing in both the first orientation and the second orientation.

26. The device according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein at least one power transmission coil comprises a plurality of substantially flat power transmission coils that are substantially parallel to each other and at least partially overlap each other.

27. The device according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of: accelerometer; gyroscope; tilt sensor; inclinometer.

28. The device according to any one of claims 24 to 27, further comprising at least one second sensor on or within the housing, the at least one second sensor being configured to generate at least one second sensor signal indicating the positioning and / or orientation of the receiver relative to the at least one power transmission coil.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the at least one second sensor signal indicates at least one of the following: The presence, location, minimum thickness, maximum thickness, compressibility, rigidity, and / or dielectric constant of the gasket. The gap between the at least one power transmission coil and the receiver, and The extent to which the receiver's organization is within the power transmission range of the at least one power transmission coil.

30. The device according to any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust the at least one current to a predetermined threshold level less than the maximum level corresponding to a predetermined medical safety regulatory standard for exposure to the recipient.

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