Patent ID: 7672732

Claim:
An apparatus for providing power to a device implanted within the body of a patient, comprising: one or more first energy interface elements; a holding device having an energy conversion circuit operatively coupled to said one or more first energy interface elements, said holding device and said one or more first energy interface elements being structured to be removeably attached to the exterior of the body of said patient; and a first energy source operatively associated with said holding device, said first energy source being operatively coupled to said energy conversion circuit; wherein said energy conversion circuit is structured to receive first energy from said first energy source and convert said first energy into second energy which is provided to said one or more first energy interface elements, wherein said one or more first energy interface elements transmit said second energy within the body of said patient, wherein at least a portion of said second energy is received by one or more second energy interface elements associated with said implanted device and is used to charge a second energy source of said implanted device.