Systems and methods for modular intraluminal device power transfer

• US 10,188,316 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Sweeney, Elizabeth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEARE, MEREDITH H
• Application Number:
  US15/051,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20170238840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/20 for measuring urological functions restricted to the evaluation of the urinary system A61B5/4375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for providing power transfer between modular intraluminal devices. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a first intraluminal device and a second intraluminal device; the first intraluminal device including a body structure, a sensor, a processor, a data transmitter, and an energy storage module configured to power at least one of the sensor, the processor, or the data transmitter; the second intraluminal device including a second body structure, an energy storage device, and a docking structure, where the energy storage device is configured to transfer energy when the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device are coupled via the docking structure, the docking structure further configured to automatically decouple the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device subsequent to transfer of the energy.

Claims

1. An intraluminal traveling modular system, comprising:

a first intraluminal device, the first intraluminal device including

a body structure dimensioned and structured to travel through a biological lumen of a subject;

a sensor coupled to the body structure, the sensor oriented to detect at least one characteristic of the biological lumen and to generate one or more sense signals in response thereto;

a processor operably coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to receive the one or more sense signals;

a data transmitter coupled to the body structure and configured to wirelessly transmit one or more data signals associated with the one or more sense signals responsive to instruction by the processor; and

an energy storage module configured to power at least one of the sensor, the processor, or the data transmitter; and

a second intraluminal device, the second intraluminal device including

a second body structure dimensioned and structured to travel through the biological lumen of the subject;

an energy storage device coupled to the second body structure, the energy storage device configured to transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the energy storage module of the first intraluminal device; and

a docking structure coupled to the second body structure, the docking structure configured to couple the first intraluminal device with the second intraluminal device, the energy storage device configured to transfer the energy when the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device are coupled via the docking structure, the docking structure further configured to automatically decouple the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device subsequent to transfer of the energy from the energy storage device of the second intraluminal device to the energy storage module of the first intraluminal device,

wherein the first intraluminal device further includes

a wall-engaging structure capable of engaging a wall of the biological lumen to secure the first intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen; and

a second sensor configured to measure a proximity between the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device, and

wherein the processor is configured to direct the wall-engaging structure to secure the first intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen until the measured proximity between the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device is within a threshold proximity.

2. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 1, wherein the docking structure includes a magnetic connector configured to couple the first intraluminal device with the second intraluminal device.

3. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 2, wherein the magnetic connector includes an electromagnetic connector configured to establish an electromagnetic connection between the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device.

4. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 3, wherein the energy storage device of the second intraluminal device is configured to power the electromagnetic connection.

5. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic connection is maintained until loss of power of the energy storage device of the second intraluminal device.

6. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic connection is maintained until a power level of the energy storage device of the second intraluminal device is reduced below a threshold power level.

7. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 4, wherein the docking structure includes a switch structure to maintain the electromagnetic connection until a power level of the energy storage device of the second intraluminal device is reduced below a threshold power level.

8. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device further includes a motive structure.

9. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to direct the wall-engaging structure to secure the first intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen when a power level of the first intraluminal device is below a threshold power value.

10. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 1, further including:

a location determination device, the location determination device configured to determine at least one of an absolute location or a relative location of at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device.

11. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 10, wherein the location determination device includes at least one of a physical sensor, a chemical sensing device, an optical sensor, a radio frequency device, an acoustic device, a localization beacon, or a magnetic tracking system.

12. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device includes an actuator configured to initiate transfer of energy from the energy storage device of the second intraluminal device to the energy storage module of the first intraluminal device.

13. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 12, further including:

a control circuit coupled to the actuator, the control circuit driving the actuator in response to at least one of;

a timer output, a sensor output, or a communication received from a source external to the biological lumen of the subject.

14. The intraluminal traveling modular system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes at least one of a battery, a microbattery, an electrochemical battery, a fuel cell, a capacitive storage device, or an electromagnetic storage device.