Method for generation of power from intraluminal pressure changes

• US 20100140957A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,567,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/04 using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature F03G7/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for generating power from intraluminal pressure changes may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) receiving an intraluminal pressure change; and (b) converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change; and

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change associated with a blood pressure change.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change associated with a respiratory pressure change.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a resilient structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a resilient structure comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a resilient membrane structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a resilient structure comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a resilient polymeric structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an elastomeric pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal electroactive polymer generator.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal piezoelectric generator.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal piezoelectric semiconductor generator.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal microelectromechanical system (MEMS) generator.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator further comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to a mechanical generator.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to a ferromagnetic generator.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to a fluid displacement generator.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator by a mechanical coupling.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator by a fluid coupling.

19. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator by a cantilevered beam coupling.

20. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator by a trampoline coupling.

21. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator by a camshaft coupling.

22. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator comprises:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with a pressure change receiving structure operably coupled to an intraluminal generator by a mechanical lever coupling.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator encircling at least a portion of an intraluminal circumference.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator coupled to a lumen wall.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator moveable relative to a lumen wall.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator having a resilient structure.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator having a resilient structure comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator having a resilient membrane.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator having a resilient membrane comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator having a resilient polymeric membrane.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal elastomeric generator.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal electroactive polymer generator.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal piezoelectric generator.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal piezoelectric semiconductor generator.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal microelectromechanical system (MEMS) generator.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with a mechanical generator.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with a ferromagnetic generator.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator comprises:

converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with a fluid displacement generator.