Patent ID: 7471986

Claim:
A system for transmitting energy to and communicating with a complementary implantable medical device, the system comprising a transmission module further comprising at least one energizable coil and adapted to automatically establish and control an inductive transfer link with the complementary implantable medical device comprising at least one energizable coil wherein the transmission module automatically initiates, without requiring user intervention, patient contact, or any alignment between the energizable coil and the implantable medical device, an inductive transfer of energy to the medical device to power the medical device, the automatic initiation based at least in part on the medical device coming within range of the transmission module, wherein the transmission module establishes a data transfer link with the medical device and wherein the inductive link powers the data link and wherein the inductive link powers at least one of: (1) intracorporeal ultrasound transmitters and receivers for data communication between multiple implantable devices, or (2) a RF transmitter and receiver.