Patent ID: 6185452
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61N

Abstract:
A system configured for stimulating tissue internal to a patient's body, said system comprising:a sealed elongate housing configured for implantation in said patient's body, said housing having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm;power consuming circuitry carried by said housing including at least one electrode extending externally of said housing, said power consuming circuitry including a capacitor and pulse control circuitry for controlling (1) the charging of said capacitor and (2) the discharging of said capacitor to produce a current pulse through said electrode;a battery disposed in said housing electrically connected to said power consuming circuitry for powering said pulse control circuitry and charging said capacitor, said battery having a capacity of at least one microwatt-hour;an internal coil and a charging circuit disposed in said housing for supplying a charging current to said battery;an external coil adapted to be mounted outside of said patient's body; andmeans for energizing said external coil to generate an alternating magnetic field for supplying energy to said charging circuit via said internal coil.