Biothermal power source for implantable devices

• US 20050038483A1
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomed Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Biomed Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: MacDonald, Stuart G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 11/002 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An implantable, rechargeable assembly comprised of an implantable device disposed within a living organism, an electrical storage device connected to the implantable device, and a thermoelectric charging assembly operatively connected to the electrical storage device. The thermoelectric charging assembly has devices for transferring thermal energy between the living organism and a thermoelectric module, for generating an electrical current from the thermal energy, for charging the electrical storage device with the electrical current, for determining the extent to which the electrical storage device is being charged with the electrical current, and for generating a signal whenever the extent to which the electrical storage device is being charged with the electrical current falls below a specified value.

Claims

1. An implantable power supply adapted to be disposed within a living organism, said implantable power supply comprising:

a. a thermoelectric module comprised of a first surface for transferring thermal energy, a second surface for transferring thermal energy, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements disposed between said first surface and said second surface for converting said thermal energy to electrical energy; and

b. a pair of conductive leads operatively electrically connected to said thermoelectric module for conducting said electrical energy from said thermoelectric module; and

c. a control circuit for receiving and controlling said electrical energy through said conductive leads from said thermoelectric module.

2. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 1, further comprising a voltage regulator operatively electrically connected to said control circuit for regulating the voltage of said electrical energy.

3. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrical storage device.

4. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 3, wherein said electrical storage device is a battery.

5. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 3, wherein said electrical storage device is a capacitive storage device.

6. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for determining the extent to which said electrical storage device is charged.

7. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for generating a signal when the energy content of said electrical storage device is below a certain specified level.

8. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for reversing the polarity of said electrical energy from said thermoelectric module.

9. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 8, further comprising an electrical storage device selected from the group consisting of a battery, and a capacitive storage device.

10. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for transferring thermal energy between said living organism and a thermoelectric module.

11. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for transferring thermal energy between said living organism and said thermoelectric module comprises a thermally conductive member proximate to at least one of said first surface and said second surface of said thermoelectric module.

12. The implantable power supply of claim 11, wherein said conductive member is an elongated rod having a proximal end proximate to said at least one of said first surface and said second surface of said thermoelectric module.

13. The implantable power supply of claim 12, wherein said conductive member further comprises a distal end affixed to a thermal contact.

14. The implantable power supply of claim 13, further comprising an insulating sheath around said conductive member.

15. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first sensor for sensing the temperature of said living organism.

16. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 15, further comprising a second sensor for sensing the temperature at the surface of skin tissue of said living organism.

17. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 16, wherein said implantable power supply produces an electrical power of at least 50 microwatts when presented with a temperature differential of 2 degrees Celsius.

18. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 17, wherein said implantable power supply produces an electrical power of at least 100 microwatts when presented with a temperature differential of 1 degree Celsius

19. The implantable power supply as recited in claim 1, comprised of means for increasing said temperature of said living organism.

20. An implantable assembly adapted to be disposed within a living organism, said implantable assembly comprising:

a. a thermoelectric module comprised of a first surface for transferring thermal energy, a second surface for transferring thermal energy, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements disposed between said first surface and said second surface for converting said thermal energy to electrical energy;

b. a pair of conductive leads operatively electrically connected to said thermoelectric module for conducting said electrical energy from said thermoelectric module;

c. a control circuit for receiving and controlling said electrical energy through said conductive leads from said thermoelectric module; and

d. an implantable device receiving said electrical energy.

21. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, further comprising an electrical storage device.

22. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said electrical storage device is a battery.

23. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said electrical storage device is a capacitive storage device.

24. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 21, further comprising means for determining the extent to which said electrical storage device is charged.

25. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 21, further comprising means for generating a signal when the energy content of said electrical storage device is below a certain specified level.

26. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, further comprising means for reversing the polarity of said electrical energy from said thermoelectric module.

27. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 26, further comprising an electrical storage device.

28. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 27, wherein said electrical storage device is a battery.

29. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, further comprising means for transferring thermal energy between said living organism and a thermoelectric module.

30. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 29, wherein said means for transferring thermal energy between said living organism and said thermoelectric module comprises a thermally conductive member proximate to at least one of said first surface and said second surface of said thermoelectric module.

31. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, further comprising a first sensor for sensing the temperature of said living organism.

32. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 31, further comprising a second sensor for sensing the temperature at the surface of the skin tissue of said living organism.

33. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 32, wherein said thermoelectric module produces an electrical power of at least 50 microwatts when presented with a temperature differential of 2 degrees Celsius.

34. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, comprised of means for increasing said temperature of said living organism.

35. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, further comprising a voltage regulator operatively electrically connected to said control circuit for regulating the voltage of said electrical energy.

36. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein said implantable device is adapted to stimulate at least one organ within said living organism.

37. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein said implantable device is adapted to stimulate at least one nerve within said living organism.

38. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein said implantable device is a cardiac assist device.

39. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein said implantable device is a drug delivery device.

40. The implantable assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein said implantable device is a brain stimulation device.