Systems and methods for modular intraluminal device power transfer

• US 10,194,832 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• 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:
  US15/051,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20170238839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• 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 5/05 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 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6886 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue

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 a wireless energy receiver oriented to wirelessly receive energy originating external to the first intraluminal device to power at least one of the sensor, the processor, or the data transmitter; the second intraluminal device including a second body structure, and an energy storage device configured to wirelessly transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device when the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device are positioned within a subject.

Claims

1. An intraluminal traveling 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;

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

a wireless energy receiver coupled to the body structure and oriented to wirelessly receive energy originating external to the first intraluminal device 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;

a second sensor coupled to the second body structure, the second sensor configured to detect the first intraluminal device and generate an output signal in response thereto;

a second processor configured to receive the output signal from the second sensor; and

an energy storage device coupled to the second body structure, the energy storage device configured to wirelessly transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device when the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device are positioned within the subject responsive to control by the second processor.

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

3. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 2, wherein the motive structure includes at least one of an oscillatory motive mechanism, a vibratory motive mechanism, an actuator-driven bending mechanism, a unimorph actuator, a bimorph actuator, a pneumatic bellow, a lumen-surface-engaging structure, an impelling device, or a jointed appendage.

4. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device further includes a motion-resistive mechanism.

5. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 4, wherein the motion-resistive mechanism includes a wall-engaging structure capable of engaging a wall of the biological lumen to secure at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen.

6. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 4, wherein the processor of the first intraluminal device is configured to direct the motion-resistive mechanism proximate a wall of the biological lumen to secure the first intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen.

7. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 4, wherein the processor of the first intraluminal device is configured to direct the motion-resistive mechanism proximate a wall of the biological lumen to secure the first intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen until the second intraluminal device is within a threshold proximity of the first intraluminal device.

8. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 4, wherein the processor of the first intraluminal device is configured to direct the motion-resistive mechanism proximate a wall of the biological lumen 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.

9. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein the second intraluminal device includes a power transmitter coupled to the energy storage device, the power transmitter configured to transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device.

10. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 9, wherein the second processor instructs the power transmitter to transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device responsive to reaching a threshold distance between the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device.

11. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 9, wherein the second processor instructs the power transmitter to transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device responsive to an orientation of the first intraluminal device relative to the second intraluminal device.

12. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 9, wherein the power transmitter includes at least one of an electromagnetic power transmitter having an electromagnetic coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver, a microwave power transmitter having a microwave coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver, an infrared power transmitter having an infrared coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver, an optical power transmitter having an optical coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver, or an acoustic power transmitter having at least one of an acoustic coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver or an ultrasonic coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver.

13. The intraluminal traveling 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.

14. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 13, wherein the processor of the first intraluminal device is configured to control an angular sensitivity of at least one of the wireless energy receiver or the energy storage device based on the at least one of the absolute location or the relative location.

15. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 13, 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.

16. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein the second intraluminal device includes an actuator configured to initiate transfer of energy from the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver.

17. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 16, wherein the actuator includes at least one of a mechanical actuator, a fluid-driven actuator, a chemical actuator, an electromechanical actuator, a magnetic actuator, or an electromagnetic actuator.

18. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor includes at least one of an RFID reader, an acoustic sensor, an optical sensor, or a proximity sensor.

19. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein the second processor is configured to determine whether the output signal from the second sensor is indicative of a proximity between the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device that is within a threshold proximity, and wherein the second processor instructs the energy storage device to wirelessly transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device when the proximity between the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device is within the threshold proximity.