SELF-POWERED MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20080125749A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Olson, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US11/468,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125749A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/825 using mechanical generation of electricity, e.g. hand cranked generators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

Medical devices, including intravascular medical devices, may be constructed to include on-board power generation capabilities adapted to provide power to an electrical load, such as a therapeutic element, that is disposed upon or formed within the medical device. An electrical power generator may be disposed upon or formed within a proximal portion of a medical device.

Claims

1. An medical device comprising:

a proximal hub;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the proximal hub, the elongate shaft having a distal region;

an electrical load disposed within the distal region of the elongate shaft; and

an electrical generator disposed within the proximal hub, the electrical generator in electrical communication with the electrical load.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrical generator comprises a magnet and a coil, one of the magnet and the coil movable relative to another of the magnet and the coil.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the proximal hub further comprises a user-actuatable apparatus adapted to move one of the magnet and the coil relative to another of the magnet and the coil.

4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the user-actuatable apparatus is configured to move the magnet relative to the coil.

5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the user-actuatable apparatus is adapted to provide rotary movement to the magnet.

6. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the user-actuatable apparatus is adapted to provide linear movement to the magnet.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the user-actuatable apparatus comprises a thumb wheel.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the user-actuatable apparatus comprises a sliding element.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the user-actuatable comprises a spring-loaded plunger.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrical generator is adapted to generate electrical power during deployment of the medical device.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrical generator is adapted to generate and store electrical power prior to deployment of the medical device.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the proximal hub further comprises a capacitor for storing electrical power generated prior to deployment.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrical load comprises a therapeutic element adapted for activation via power generated by the electrical generator.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the therapeutic element comprises one of an electrorheological fluid disposed between electrical contacts, a diagnostic sensor, a moving element or a thermal element.

15. A medical device hub, comprising:

a hub body having a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen extending therebetween;

an induction coil and a magnet movable with respect to the induction coil, the induction coil and magnet disposed within the hub body; and

a user-actuated apparatus adapted to move the magnet relative to the induction coil.

16. The medical device hub of claim 15, wherein the distal end is adapted for releasable securement to an elongate medical device.

17. The medical device hub of claim 15, wherein the distal end comprises electrical contacts for providing electrical communication with an elongate medical device comprising an electrical load.

18. The medical device hub of claim 15, wherein the proximal end is adapted to provide access to the lumen extending through the hub body.

19. The medical device hub of claim 15, further comprising an on/off switch.

20. The medical device hub of claim 15, further comprising a charge indicator.