Implex Aktiengesellschaft Hearing Technology

Implex Gmbh Spezialhorgerate

Andreas Volz

Hans Leysieffer

Joachim W Baumann

Gerd M Muller

Dieter Muller

Klaus Bodganowitz

A device and a process for charging of rechargeable NiCd, Ni-metal hydride or lithium batteries (,) of implants by transcutaneous transmission of electric power from an external power transmission part (,) to a power receiving part (,) which forms a part of the implant. The charging device is provided with a charging current detector (,) which, in a first charging phase (T,), allows a relatively high charging current (I,) to flow and which, after the cell voltage (U,) of the battery has reached a predetermined limiting charging voltage (U,), in a second charging phase (T,), reduces the charging current as compared to the charging current which flows at the end of the first charging phase. The charging current detector is made such that, during the second charging phase, it sets the charging current to a value causing the cell voltage during the second charging phase to be kept at least approximately at a predetermined constant voltage value (U,).

Device and process for charging of rechargeable batteries of implants

A protective device for a repeatedly rechargeable electrochemical battery (10) with a battery housing (12), the protective device having at least one switching element (86) which can be activated by a detector element (62) and which is designed or adjusted to prevent recharging and/or discharging of the battery (10) in an impermissible operating state thereof. The protective device has a hermetically sealed protective housing (54) which holds the battery housing (12). An impermissible operating state of the battery (10) causes a change in shape (deflection) to be impressed on the detector element (62). Preferably, the at least one switching element (86) is made as a make contact which electrically short circuits a recharging circuit supplied by a charging device when a predetermined expansion in the volume of the battery housing (12) and/or gas escape therefrom occurs. The protective device is part of an implantable device, such as a hearing aid.

Protective device for a repeatedly rechargeable electrochemical battery

An implantable unit with at least one contact arrangement for connection of an electrical or electronic device (11), which is hermetically sealed within a housing (10), to at least one cable set (12, 14) that is routed out of the housing. The contact arrangement has a first contact (22), a second contact (30) supported on an elastic body (16), a closing mechanism (18, 19, 20) for engaging the front of the first contact to the front of the second contact and at least one sealing land (28) which surrounds the first contact, which is pressed into the elastic body when the contacts engage, and which seals the contacts relative to the outside of the unit.

Growing community of inventors

München, Germany

Andreas Volz