IMPLANTABLE BIOMEDICAL DEVICE INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATOR

• US 20090281600A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tremont Electric Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tremont Electric Incorporated
• Inventors: LEMIEUX, AARON PATRICK
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/18 with coil systems moving upon intermittent or reversed energisation thereof by interaction with a fixed field system, e.g. permanent magnets

Abstract

Disclosed is an implantable biomedical device that incorporates an electrical energy generator. The electrical energy generator harvests kinetic energy from voluntary motor activity of a human or animal and converts the kinetic energy to usable electrical energy which is used to power the biomedical device. In certain embodiments, the electrical energy generator includes a housing, an electrical conductor, an electromagnetically active mass, springs connecting the mass to the housing, and electrically circuitry to generate a usable source of electrical power for the biomedical device.

Claims

1. In combination with an implantable biomedical device, an energy generator capable of generating electrical energy from kinetic energy by electromagnetic induction, said generator in electrical connection with said implantable biomedical device.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said electrical energy generator comprises:

a housing having a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity and an interior cavity surface, and an exterior surface;

an electrically conductive material positioned about at least a portion of said exterior surface of said housing and extending along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis; and

an electromagnetically active mass positioned within said housing reciprocally movable along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said electrical energy generator comprises:

a housing having a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity and an interior cavity surface, and an exterior surface;

an electrically conductive material positioned about at least a portion of said exterior surface of said housing and extending along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis;

electromagnetically active mass positioned within said housing reciprocally movable along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis;

a first spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged with said housing and one of said ends is engaged with said electromagnetically active mass; and

a second spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged with said housing and one of said ends is engaged with said electromagnetically active mass.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said electromagnetically active mass is constrained within said housing to minimize or substantially prevent non-reciprocating motion of said electromagnetically active mass within said housing

5. The electrical energy generator of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a cylinder or tube.

6. The electrical energy generator of claim 5, wherein said electrically conductive material comprises an induction coil.

7. The electrical energy generator of claim 1, wherein the entirety of said electromagnetically active mass is adapted to pass through the entirety of said induction coil twice during a single reciprocation period.

8. The electrical energy generator of claim 7, wherein said springs comprise coil springs.

9. The electrical energy generator of claim 8, wherein said coil springs comprise extension springs.

10. The electrical energy generator of claim 8, wherein said coil springs comprise compression springs.

11. The electrical energy generator of claim 9, wherein said electromagnetically active mass comprises at least one permanent magnet.

12. The electrical energy generator of claim 11, wherein said electrical energy generator further comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, said shroud having a high magnetic permeability.

13. The electrical energy generator of claim 12, wherein said shroud comprises a ferromagnetic material.

14. The electrical energy generator of claim 9, wherein said electrical energy generator further comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, and wherein:

said electromagnetically active mass does not comprise a permanent magnet; and

said generator comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, wherein said shroud comprises a permanent magnet.

15. The electrical energy generator of claim 1, further comprising guidance means to minimize or substantially prevent the non-reciprocating motion of said electromagnetically active mass within said housing.

16. The electrical energy generator of claim 15, wherein said guidance means comprises said interior housing surface or shaft engaged with said housing and said electromagnetically active mass.

17. The electrical energy generator of claim 11, wherein said generator is in electrical connection with an electronic device.

18. The combination of claim 1, further comprising means to mitigate motion retardation of said electromagnetically active mass within the housing.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein electrical energy generator comprises:

a housing having a longitudinal axis;

electrically conductive material engaged about at least of portion of an exterior surface of said housing and extending along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis;

an electromagnetically active mass positioned within said housing, said mass reciprocally movable along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis;

a first spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged with said housing and one of said ends in engaged with said electromagnetically active mass; and

a second spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged with said housing and one of said ends is engaged with said electromagnetically active mass.

20. The combination of claim 18, wherein said means to mitigate motion retardation of said electromagnetically active mass within the housing comprises:

(i) a sub-atmospheric pressure within said housing;

(ii) at least one aperture communicating between the interior of said housing and the external environment,

(iii) fluid connections between regions of said housing;

or

(iv) a combination of two or more of (i), (ii), and (iii).

21. The combination of claim 18, wherein said housing comprises a cylinder or tube.

22. The combination of claim 18, wherein said electrically conductive material comprises an induction coil.

23. The combination of claim 18, wherein the entirety of said mass is adapted to pass through the entirety of said coil twice during a single reciprocation period.

24. The electrical energy generator of claim 23, wherein said springs comprise coil springs.

25. The electrical energy generator of claim 24, wherein said first and second coil springs comprise extension springs.

26. The electrical energy generator of claim 24, wherein said first and second coil springs comprise compression springs.

27. The electrical energy generator of claim 25, wherein said electromagnetically active mass comprises at least one permanent magnet.

28. The electrical energy generator of claim 27, wherein said electrical energy generator further comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, said shroud having a high magnetic permeability.

29. The electrical energy generator of claim 28, wherein said shroud comprises a ferromagnetic material.

30. The electrical energy generator of claim 27, wherein said electrical energy generator further comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, and wherein:

said electromagnetically active mass does not comprise a permanent magnet; and

said generator comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, wherein said shroud comprises a permanent magnet.

31. The electrical energy generator of claim 18, wherein said means to mitigate motion retardation (i) comprises partial or substantially complete evacuation of said housing.

32. The electrical energy generator of claim 18, wherein said means to mitigate motion retardation (iii) comprises flutes in at least one of the electromagnetically active mass and said housing to prevent isolation of regions of the interior cavity of said housing.

33. The combination of claim 3, further comprising at least one spring deflection adjustor engaged with said housing and at least one of said springs.

34. The combination of claim 33, wherein said spring deflection adjustor comprises:

a threaded receiver engaged with said housing; and

a threaded member rotatably engaged with said threaded receiver to permit helical motion of said threaded member with respect to said housing.

35. The combination of claim 33, wherein said housing comprises a cylinder or tube.

36. The combination of claim 35, wherein said electrically conductive material comprises an induction coil.

37. The combination of claim 36, wherein said springs comprise coil springs.

38. The combination of claim 37, wherein said coil springs comprise extension springs.

39. The combination of claim 37, wherein said coil springs comprise compression springs.

40. The combination of claim 38, wherein the entirety of said electromagnetically active mass is adapted to pass through the entirety of said induction coil twice during a single reciprocation period.

41. The combination of claim 40, wherein said mass comprises a permanent magnet.

42. The combination of claim 41, wherein said generator further comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, said shroud having a high magnetic permeability.

43. The combination of claim 38, wherein said shroud comprises a ferromagnetic material.

44. The combination of claim 37 wherein:

said electromagnetically active mass does not comprise a permanent magnet; and

said generator comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, wherein said shroud comprises a permanent magnet.

45. The electrical energy generator of claim 34, wherein said threaded members comprise male threaded shafts.

46. The electrical energy generator of claim 34, wherein said threaded receivers comprise female threads integrally formed in said housing.