ENERGY HARVESTING FOR IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICES
First Claim
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1. An energy harvesting implant positionable within a blood vessel having a vessel wall, comprising;
- an implant device proportioned for positioning within the blood vessel;
at least one piezoelectric element disposed on the implant device, the piezoelectric element positioned to receive mechanical forces in response to blood vessel activity and to thereby produce a voltage.
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Abstract
An energy harvesting device positionable within a blood vessel for use in generating energy for powering all or a portion of the functions of a diagnostic or therapeutic medical implant. The energy harvesting device includes piezoelectric elements arranged to generate a voltage in response to mechanical blood vessel activity such as bending, expansion or contraction of the blood vessel, or flow of blood through the blood vessel. The electrical energy generated by the piezoelectric elements may be used to recharge a battery, stored in a capacitor, and/or used in real time to generate the energy used for operation of the implant.
56 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An energy harvesting implant positionable within a blood vessel having a vessel wall, comprising;
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an implant device proportioned for positioning within the blood vessel; at least one piezoelectric element disposed on the implant device, the piezoelectric element positioned to receive mechanical forces in response to blood vessel activity and to thereby produce a voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of harvesting mechanical energy from a blood vessel for use in a medical implant, the method comprising:
positioning an implant device within a blood vessel, the implant device including at least one piezoelectric element, wherein the piezoelectric element receives mechanical forces in response to blood vessel activity and thereby produces a voltage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification