ENERGY HARVESTING MECHANISM FOR MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20100076517A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InCube Labs LLC. (In-Cube, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InCube Labs LLC. (In-Cube, Inc.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, systems and methods for harvesting energy from bio-kinetic events to power various implanted medical devices. One embodiment provides an energy harvesting mechanism for a cardiac pacemaker comprising an energy converter and a signal path component. The energy converter is positionable inside a human body and configured to generate electric power signals in response to a bio-kinetic event of the human body such as a heart beat, respiration or arterial pulse. The converter can comprise a piezoelectric material which generates electricity in response to mechanical deformation of the converter. The converter can also have a power generation characteristic that is matched to the frequency of the bio-kinetic event. For heart beat powered applications, the power generation characteristic can be matched to the physiologic range of pulse rates.

Claims

1. An energy harvesting mechanism for a cardiac pacemaker, the mechanism comprising:

an energy converter positionable inside a human body to generate electric power signals in response to a bio-kinetic event of the human body;

the energy converter having a characteristic matched to the frequency of the bio-kinetic event; and

a signal path component structured to enable the power signals to be carried from the energy converter to the cardiac pacemaker.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is a peak generated voltage, root mean square generated voltage, or peak generated current or root mean square generated current.

3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the signal path component comprises a cable that provides a pace making signal to the heart.

4. The mechanism of claim 3, wherein the energy converter is positioned within the cable.

5. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein the cable is positioned proximate to the heart wall in order to provide a pace making signal for the heart.

6. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein the cable includes at least one wire that provides at least a portion of the signal path.

7. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein the energy converter is coaxial with respect to the cable.

8. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein the energy converter has a form factor which does not change the form factor of the cable without the energy converter.

9. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the energy converter is positioned to deform in response to the bio-kinetic event in order to generate the electric power signals.

10. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the energy converter comprises a piezoelectric material.

11. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the energy converter is shaped to be cylindrical when in a non-deformed state.

12. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the bio-kinetic event is a heartbeat, a respiration or an arterial pulse.

13. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein energy converter functions as a sensor to sense a property of the heart.

14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the property is one of a heart rate, heart rhythm, arrhythmia, heart wall motion or heart wall motion abnormality.

15. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the energy converter generates one of a voltage or current wave form that is used to sense the property of the heart.

16. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a rechargeable power supply coupled to the signal path component to receive electrical energy generated by the energy harvesting device.

17. The mechanism of claim 16, wherein the rechargeable power supply is a battery or a capacitor.

18. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the energy converter generates an AC signal.

19. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a rectifying device to rectify an AC signal generated by the energy converter into a DC signal.

20. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the energy converter generates sufficient power to autonomously power the pacemaker from motion of a beating heart.

21. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the energy converter generates up to about 20 mW of power from motion of a beating heart.

22. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the energy converter includes a first energy converter positioned in a first location and a second energy converter positioned at a second location.

23. The mechanism of claim 22, wherein the first energy converter is configured to generate energy during a first portion of the bio-kinetic event and the second energy converter is configured to generate energy during a second portion of the bio-kinetic event.

24. The mechanism of claim 23, wherein the biokinetic event is a heartbeat, and the first portion of the event is systole and the second portion is diastole.

25. An energy harvesting mechanism for a cardiac pacemaker, the mechanism comprising:

an energy converter positionable inside a human body to generate electric power signals in response to a bio-kinetic event of the human body;

the energy converter capable of generating electric power independent from a plane of deformation of the energy converter; and

a signal path component structured to enable the power signals to be carried from the energy converter to the cardiac pacemaker.

26. An energy harvesting system for a cardiac pacemaker, comprising:

a cable for providing a pace making signal to the heart, the cable configured to be coupled to a pace-making device and positioned proximate the heart wall to provide a pace making signal for the heart, the cable including at least one wire and an insulating cladding; and

an energy harvesting device disposed within the cable to convert mechanical energy of the cable into electrical energy;

wherein deformation of the cable from heart motion is converted by the energy harvesting device into electrical energy to power the pacemaker.

27. The energy harvesting system of claim 26, wherein the energy harvesting material comprises a piezoelectric material.

28. The energy harvesting system of claim 27, wherein the energy harvesting material comprise a piezoelectric material having a cylindrical shape.

29. The energy harvesting system of claim 26, wherein the at least one wire comprises a wire for conduction of the pacemaking signal to the heart and a wire for conduction of electrical energy generated by the energy harvesting device.

30. The energy harvesting system of claim 26, wherein the energy harvesting device functions as a sensor to sense a property of the heart.

31. The energy harvesting system of claim 30, wherein the property is one of a heart rate, heart rhythm, arrhythmia, heart wall motion or heart wall motion abnormality.