System for powering devices from intraluminal pressure changes

• US 20100141052A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• 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 9,631,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/151
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/04 using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature F03G7/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for utilizing power extracted from intraluminal pressure changes may comprise: (a) an intraluminal generator; (b) an intraluminal pressure change-receiving structure operably coupled to the intraluminal generator; and (c) a power utilization device.

A system for utilizing power extracted from intraluminal pressure changes may comprise: (a) means for receiving an intraluminal pressure change; (b) means for converting an intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator; and (c) means for providing the energy to a power utilization device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an intraluminal generator;

an intraluminal pressure change-receiving structure operably coupled to the intraluminal generator; and

a power utilization device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator comprises:

a power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an electrical coupling.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via radiant transmission.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an electromagnetic radiation coupling.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an electromagnetic radiation coupling comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an optical coupling.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an electromagnetic radiation coupling comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via a radio frequency coupling.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an electromagnetic radiation coupling comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an infrared coupling.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an inductive coupling.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an inductive coupling comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via a resonant inductive coupling.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an inductive coupling comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via a first resonant inductive coupling in resonance with a second resonant inductive coupling.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator comprises:

power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator via an acoustical coupling.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

an at least partially intraluminal power utilization device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device operably coupled to the intraluminal generator comprises:

an at least partially extraluminal power utilization device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a power utilization device disposed in a first lumen configured to receive energy from an intraluminal generator disposed in a second lumen.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a power utilization device in a distal configuration with respect to the intraluminal generator.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

an ex vivo power utilization device.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

an insulin pump.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a neural stimulation electrode.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a pharmaceutical dispenser.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a chemical sensor.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device further comprises:

a pH sensor.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a blood sugar monitor.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

an electromagnetic sensor.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

an optical source.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

an optical sensor.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

an ultrasonic source.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein power utilization device comprises:

an ultrasonic sensor.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a processor.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a memory storage device.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device comprises:

a communication device.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device further comprises:

a pressure sensor.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device further comprises:

a flow sensor.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the power utilization device further comprises:

a flow modulation device.

41. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storage apparatus

42. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy configuration mechanism.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the energy configuration mechanism comprises:

an electrical power convertor.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the energy configuration mechanism comprises:

a switched mode power convertor.

7-8. -8. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

17-18. -18. (canceled)

45-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A system comprising:

means for receiving an intraluminal pressure change,

means for converting an intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator; and

means for providing the energy to a power utilization device.

51-98. -98. (canceled)