Implantable generating system

• US 20060184206A1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James R. Baker, Rex M. Baker III
• Original Assignee: James R. Baker, Rex M. Baker III
• Inventors: Baker, James R., Baker, Rex M. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/06 with moving flux distributors, and both coil systems and magnets stationary
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts

Abstract

An implantable generating system includes a generator assembly for converting mechanical motion into electrical energy. A linkage assembly, which is mechanically coupled to the generator assembly, converts respiratory motion into mechanical motion.

Claims

1. An implantable generating system comprising:

a generator assembly for converting mechanical motion into electrical energy; and

a linkage assembly, mechanically coupled to the generator assembly, for converting respiratory motion into mechanical motion.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an energy storage device electrically coupled to the generator assembly for storing the electrical energy.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the energy storage device is one of a battery and a capacitor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the generator assembly includes a rotor assembly and a stator assembly.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a freewheel clutch assembly, positioned between the rotor assembly and the linkage assembly, for allowing mono-directional rotation of the rotor assembly independent of the linkage assembly.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising a flywheel assembly for storing the rotational kinetic energy of the rotor assembly.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the linkage assembly, which is configured to convert respiratory motion into rotational motion of the rotor assembly, includes at least one rack gear assembly mechanically coupled on a first end to a portion of a rib cage, wherein the portion of the rib cage moves in response to respiratory motion.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a pinion gear assembly mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly;

wherein a second end of the at least one rack gear assembly is configured to mesh with the pinion gear assembly;

wherein linear movement of the rack gear assembly is converted to rotational movement of the pinion gear assembly and the rotor assembly.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one rack gear assembly includes:

a magnetic coupling assembly configured to temporarily uncouple the first and second ends of the rack gear assembly during irregular movement of the rib cage.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein the linkage assembly, which is configured to convert respiratory motion into rotational motion of the rotor assembly, includes:

a fluid-filled bladder assembly that penetrates an abdominal diaphragm, such that a first portion of the bladder assembly is positioned on a first side of the abdominal diaphragm and a second portion of the bladder assembly is positioned on a second side of the abdominal diaphragm; and

an impeller assembly positioned between the first and second portions of the bladder assembly, such that the impeller assembly is mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly of the generator assembly;

wherein the abdominal diaphragm systematically moves in response to respiratory motion, such that the fluid within the bladder assembly, which is repeatedly displaced from one of the portions of the bladder assembly to the other portion of the bladder assembly, passes through and rotates the impeller assembly.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the generator assembly includes a coil assembly and a magnetic core assembly axially displaceable within the coil assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the linkage assembly includes at least one rod assembly mechanically coupled on a first end to an abdominal diaphragm, wherein the abdominal diaphragm systematically moves in response to respiratory motion.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a second end of the at least one rod assembly is mechanically coupled to the magnetic core assembly and movement of the at least one rod assembly results in axial displacement of the magnetic core assembly within the coil assembly.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one rod assembly includes:

a magnetic coupling assembly configured to temporarily uncouple the first and second ends of the rod assembly during irregular movement of the diaphragm.

15. An implantable system comprising:

a medical device;

an energy storage device, electrically coupled to the medical device, for providing electrical energy to the medical device; and

an implantable generating system, electrically coupled to the energy storage device, for converting respiratory motion into electrical energy that is provided to the energy storage device.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the energy storage device is one of a battery and a capacitor.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the medical device is chosen from the group consisting of a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a bone growth stimulation device, or a pain attenuation device.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the implantable generating system includes:

a generator assembly having a rotor assembly and a stator assembly; and

a linkage assembly, mechanically coupled to the generator assembly, for converting respiratory motion into mechanical motion.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a freewheel clutch assembly, positioned between the rotor assembly and the linkage assembly, for allowing mono-directional rotation of the rotor assembly independent of the linkage assembly.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising a flywheel assembly for storing the rotational kinetic energy of the rotor assembly.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the linkage assembly, which is configured to convert respiratory motion into rotational motion of the rotor assembly, includes at least one rack gear assembly mechanically coupled on a first end to a portion of a rib cage, wherein the portion of the rib cage moves in response to respiratory motion.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a pinion gear assembly mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly;

wherein a second end of the at least one rack gear assembly is configured to mesh with the pinion gear assembly;

wherein linear movement of the rack gear assembly is converted to rotational movement of the pinion gear assembly and the rotor assembly.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the linkage assembly, which is configured to convert respiratory motion into rotational motion of the rotor assembly, includes:

a fluid-filled bladder assembly that penetrates an abdominal diaphragm, such that a first portion of the bladder assembly is positioned on a first side of the abdominal diaphragm and a second portion of the bladder assembly is positioned on a second side of the abdominal diaphragm; and

an impeller assembly positioned between the first and second portions of the bladder assembly, such that the impeller assembly is mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly of the generator assembly;

wherein the abdominal diaphragm systematically moves in response to respiratory motion, such that the fluid within the bladder assembly, which is repeated displaced from one of the portions of the bladder assembly to the other portion of the bladder assembly, passes through and rotates the impeller assembly.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the generator assembly includes:

a coil assembly and magnetic core assembly axially displaceable within the coil assembly.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the generator assembly includes a linkage assembly having at least one rod assembly mechanically coupled on a first end to an abdominal diaphragm, wherein the abdominal diaphragm systematically moves in response to respiratory motion.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein a second end of the at least one rod assembly is mechanically coupled to the magnetic core assembly and movement of the at least one rod assembly results in axial displacement of the magnetic core assembly within the coil assembly.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one rod assembly includes:

a magnetic coupling assembly configured to temporarily uncouple the first and second ends of the rod assembly during irregular movement of the diaphragm.

28. A method of providing electrical energy to an implanted medical device comprising:

rigidly affixing an implantable generating system into a breathing organism;

mechanically coupling the implantable generating system to a portion of the breathing organism that exhibits respiratory motion; and

electrically coupling the implantable generating system to the implanted medical device.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the breathing organism is a human being.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the breathing organism is an animal.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the medical device is chosen from the group consisting of a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a bone growth stimulation device, or a pain attenuation device.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the portion of the breathing organism that exhibits respiratory motion is a portion of a rib cage.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the portion of the breathing organism that exhibits respiratory motion is an abdominal diaphragm.