IMPLANTABLE POWER GENERATOR

• US 20080200963A1
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Autonomic Technologies, Inc. (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Autonomic Technologies, Inc. (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pless, Benjamin, Connor, Jessica Anne
• Application Number:
  US12/031,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200963A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply

Abstract

The implantable power generator of the preferred embodiments includes a cardiac restraint device and a generator that generates electrical energy in response to a mechanical force. The generator is coupled to the cardiac restraint device such that it receives a mechanical force and generates electrical energy in response to the mechanical force. The generator of the preferred embodiments includes a transducer that generates electrical energy in response to a mechanical force and an electrode coupled to the transducer that collects the electrical energy generated by the transducer. The implantable power generator is preferably designed for the power generation field, and more specifically to a new and useful implantable power generator coupled to a cardiac restraint device. The implantable power generator, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason.

Claims

1. An implantable power generator comprising:

cardiac restraint device adapted to restrain a heart; and

a generator coupled to the cardiac restraint device and adapted to generate electrical energy in response to a mechanical force from the heart.

2. The implantable power generator of claim 1 wherein the cardiac restraint device is coupled to the heart such that the generator is coupled to a first portion of the heart and coupled to a second portion of the heart that moves relative to the first portion thereby creating the mechanical force.

3. The implantable power generator of claim 2 wherein the cardiac restraint device is a mesh that includes a plurality of lattice members that provide the basic structure of cardiac restraint device;

wherein the generator is coupled to at least one lattice member.

4. The implantable power generator of claim 2 wherein the cardiac restraint is a solid material and the generator is incorporated in the solid material.

5. The implantable power generator of claim 1 further comprising a battery coupled to the generator.

6. The implantable power generator of claim 1 further comprising a medical device powered by the generator.

7. The implantable power generator of claim 6 wherein the medical device is a cardiac rhythm management device.

8. The implantable power generator of claim 6 wherein the medical device is a nerve stimulation device.

9. The implantable power generator of claim 6 wherein the medical device is a drug pump.

10. The implantable power generator of claim 1 wherein the cardiac restraint device includes an adjustment element adapted to adjust the physical relationship between the cardiac restraint device and the heart.

11. The implantable power generator of claim 10 wherein the adjustment element is powered by the generator.

12. The implantable power generator of claim 1 wherein the cardiac restraint device includes a therapeutic electrode adapted to stimulate at least a portion of the heart.

13. The implantable power generator of claim 12 wherein the therapeutic electrode is powered by the generator.

14. The implantable power generator of claim 1 wherein the generator includes:

a transducer adapted to generate electrical energy in response to a mechanical force; and

an electrode coupled to the transducer and adapted to collect the electrical energy generated by the transducer.

15. The implantable power generator of claim 14 wherein the transducer is a piezoelectric fiber.

16. The implantable power generator of claim 14 wherein the transducer is an electro-active polymer.

17. The implantable power generator of claim 14 wherein the transducer is a microelectromechanical system.

18. The implantable power generator of claim 14 wherein the generator further includes a circuit, coupled to the electrode, that converts the electrical energy collected by the electrode into a substantially DC voltage.

19. The implantable power generator of claim 18 wherein the circuit includes a capacitor that stores the substantially DC voltage.

20. The implantable power generator of claim 18 wherein the circuit is coupled to a device and the substantially DC voltage is used as an indicator of the health of the heart.

21. An implantable power generator that can be coupled to a cardiac restraint device, the implantable power generator comprising:

a transducer that generates electrical energy in response to a mechanical force;

an electrode coupled to the transducer that collects the electrical energy generated by the transducer; and

a coupling element that couples the transducer to a cardiac restraint device such that the transducer receives a mechanical force from a heart and generates electrical energy in response to the mechanical force.