APPARATUS AND METHOD UTILIZING MAGNETIC FIELD
First Claim
1. An energy harvester without a local field source comprising:
- a magnetic field sensing element including one or more layers of magnetostrictive material having a magnetization vector that responds to variations in an applied magnetic field by generating a stress, and one or more layers of electroactive material, mechanically bonded to the layer of magnetostrictive material, that responds to the stress by generating a voltage; and
a circuit coupled to the sensing element that converts the voltage to electrical power for immediate use or storage, wherein the sensing element either;
a) moves relative to a remote static external magnetic field, such that changes in orientation of the sensing element with respect to the external field generates the voltage;
or b) is stationary with respect to a remote changing external magnetic field, wherein the changing external field causes the sensing element to generate the voltage.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for harvesting energy from the environment and/or other external sources and converting it to useful electrical energy. The harvester does not contain a permanent magnet or other local field source but instead relies on the earth'"'"'s magnetic field of another source of a magnetic field that is external to the sensing device. One advantage of these new harvesters is that they can be made smaller and lighter than energy harvesters that contain a magnet and/or an inertial mass. A small implantable stimulator(s) includes at least one passive magnetostrictive/electro-active (PME) magnetic-field sensor for delivering electrical stimulation to surrounding tissue. The PME is charged utilizing a changing magnetic field from an external alternating magnetic field source at a frequency particular to the PME. The small stimulator provides means of stimulating a nerve, tissue or internal organ with direct electrical current, such as relatively low-level direct current for temporary or as needed therapy. The field source may be a hand-held device or a small antenna affixed to the wearer'"'"'s skin, clothing or accessories. The stimulator may be configured to be small enough to be implanted through a surgical needle. Open- and closed-loop systems are disclosed with measurement of current flow and therapy through PME sensor function.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An energy harvester without a local field source comprising:
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a magnetic field sensing element including one or more layers of magnetostrictive material having a magnetization vector that responds to variations in an applied magnetic field by generating a stress, and one or more layers of electroactive material, mechanically bonded to the layer of magnetostrictive material, that responds to the stress by generating a voltage; and
a circuit coupled to the sensing element that converts the voltage to electrical power for immediate use or storage, wherein the sensing element either;
a) moves relative to a remote static external magnetic field, such that changes in orientation of the sensing element with respect to the external field generates the voltage;
orb) is stationary with respect to a remote changing external magnetic field, wherein the changing external field causes the sensing element to generate the voltage. - 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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21. A method of harvesting energy comprising:
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providing a magnetic field sensing element including one or more layers of magnetostrictive material having a magnetization vector that responds to variations in an applied magnetic field by generating a stress, and one or more layers of an electroactive material, mechanically bonded to the layer of magnetostrictive material, that responds to the stress by generating a voltage;
wherein the voltage is generated by either;
moving the sensing element relative to a remote static external magnetic field, such that changes in orientation in the sensing element with respect to the external field generates the voltage;
orthe sensing element is stationary with respect to a remote changing external magnetic field, and the changing external field causes the sensing elemenet to generate the voltage; and
converting the generated voltage to electrical power for immediate use or storage.
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22. A method for using electrical energy to deliver medical therapy, comprising:
- providing at least one stimulator having at least one PME;
implanting the PME near a therapeutic nerve, tissue or body area;
providing operating power to least one stimulator PME;
providing stimulation parameters to the at least one stimulator;
generating electric current in accordance with the stimulation parameters - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
- providing at least one stimulator having at least one PME;
Specification