Thoratec Corporation

Phoenix Controls Corporation

Tc1 LLC

Alexander Dolgin

Gordon P Sharp

Thomas C Rintoul

Rodney R Stewart

An implanted medical apparatus and external power source use the same coils for energy transfer to the implanted medical device as used for transmission of control signals from the implanted device. In one example, implanted circuitry generates a feedback control signal indicative of the load voltage level of a load-generating medical device and superimposes the feedback signal on an inductor capacitor (LC) tank circuit for detection by the external powering apparatus. The external powering apparatus uses the feedback signal to control the energy transfer to the implanted medical device, thus regulating the load voltage at the load-generating medical device. The feedback control signal may be a sequence of pulses whose frequency indicates the load voltage level. Other information besides load voltage level may also be transmitted from the implanted device, such as telemetry and logic information.

Transmission of information from an implanted medical device

A device, system and method for transcutaneous energy transfer (TET). Implanted circuitry suitable for conditioning the power delivered transcutaneously may be constructed in planar fashion, may be located in or near an implanted coil, and may be oriented such that the plane of the circuitry is substantially tangent to the lines of magnetic flux. The orientation of the circuitry may reduce eddy currents and their potentially harmful effects.

Transcutaneous energy transfer with circuitry arranged to avoid overheating

A method and apparatus for controlling a fluid flow valve with a linear control loop such that the error signal utilized to actuate a variable rate controller for moving a valve control element or for controlling another valve control parameter is the same for a given control parameter change regardless of the current control parameter value or the current or desired fluid flow through the valve. A non-delayed indication of current fluid flow is also generated.

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Lexington, MA, United States of America

Alexander Dolgin