One aspect of the present invention provides an alignment device for a transcutaneous energy transfer coil. The alignment device according to this aspect of the invention desirably includes a structure having an adhesive adapted to adhere to at least one of the skin or clothing of a patient and an engagement feature adapted to engage a housing of a transcutaneous energy transfer coil so as to hold the housing in predetermined alignment with the structure. The structure may include a flexible sheet element bearing the adhesive and a body connected to the sheet element, the body defining the engagement feature.