3-coil wireless power transfer system for eye implants
First Claim
1. A method of efficiently receiving power inside an eye lens for an intraocular electronic device, the method comprising:
- receiving, into a buffer coil affixed external to a sclera of an eye and surrounding a cornea of the eye, a varying magnetic field by way of a first electromagnetic induction, the varying magnetic field causing a first current in the buffer coil;
inducing a second current, within a receiver coil within a lens capsule of the eye, by way of a second electromagnetic induction from the first current in the buffer coil to the receiver coil, the receiver coil having been produced by winding a ribbon of embedded conductor traces into a spiral; and
powering an intraocular electronic device using the second current from the receiver coil within the lens capsule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A three-coil electromagnetic induction power transfer system is disclosed for epiretinal prostheses and other implants. A third, buffer coil is disposed between an external transmitting coil and a receiver coil buried within the body to improve efficiency and robustness to misalignments. One or more of the coils can be manufactured using micromechanical machining techniques to lay out conductors in a ribbon of biocompatible insulator, folding lengths of the insulated conductor traces longitudinally over one another, and then spiraling them into a ring. The traces change axial position in the ring by shifting across fold lines. One or more U-shaped sections on the traces can be folded so that adjacent traces can project opposite one another, lengthening the resulting ribbon that can be wound into a coil.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of efficiently receiving power inside an eye lens for an intraocular electronic device, the method comprising:
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receiving, into a buffer coil affixed external to a sclera of an eye and surrounding a cornea of the eye, a varying magnetic field by way of a first electromagnetic induction, the varying magnetic field causing a first current in the buffer coil; inducing a second current, within a receiver coil within a lens capsule of the eye, by way of a second electromagnetic induction from the first current in the buffer coil to the receiver coil, the receiver coil having been produced by winding a ribbon of embedded conductor traces into a spiral; and powering an intraocular electronic device using the second current from the receiver coil within the lens capsule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification