Methods, devices and systems for transmission between an implanted device and an external device

• US 20100295372A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,639,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems including an internal power transmitter that delivers energy out of a living subject to power at least one external device that is in communication with the internal power transmitter, and related apparatuses, devices, and methods of use.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an internal power transmitter configured to be disposed within a living subject, the internal power transmitter further configured to deliver energy out of the living subject; and

an internal receiver configured to be disposed within the living subject, the internal receiver further configured to receive and process a request for action from an external device located external to the living subject.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the request for action includes a request for information about one or more operational characteristics of the internal power transmitter or a request for authorization for the internal power transmitter to deliver the energy.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more operational characteristics include power level of the energy, frequency of the energy, pulse duration of the energy, time profile of the energy, type of the energy, delivery characteristics of the energy, price of the energy, location of the internal power transmitter, or amount of available energy for the internal power transmitter to deliver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the request for action includes a request for the internal power transmitter to deliver the energy.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the request for action includes a request for the energy at a selected power level, a request for the energy with a selected time profile, a request for a selected amount of the energy, or a request for the energy at a specific price.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the request for action includes a request for the internal power transmitter to stop delivering the energy.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal power transmitter is further configured to transmit one or more signals out of the living subject encoding information about the one or more operational characteristics in response to the internal receiver receiving the request.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the internal power transmitter is configured to deliver the energy out of the living subject after the one or more signals are transmitted from the internal transmitter.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal power transmitter is configured to transmit the energy transdermally out of the living subject.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the internal power transmitter is configured to deliver at least one of electrical, electromagnetic, radio-frequency, optical, ultrasonic, thermal, or magnetic energy.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal power transmitter is configured to transmit the energy through a portal in the living subject.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal receiver is configured to receive the request when transmitted transdermally through the living subject.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal power transmitter and the internal receiver are disposed in the living subject.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external transmitter positionable externally to the living subject and configured to transmit the request to the internal receiver.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the external transmitter is configured to transmit the request, wherein the request is transdermally transmittable into the living subject.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the request for action includes a request for the internal power transmitter to deliver the energy, and wherein the internal power transmitter is configured to deliver the energy in response to the request for action.

29. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the internal receiver to receive the request for action therefrom and determine a response thereto.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising memory electrical circuitry coupled to the internal power transmitter, the memory electrical circuitry configured to store information about the energy delivered by the internal power transmitter.

33. The system of claim 1, further comprising a location-identifying device configured to locate the internal power transmitter in the living subject.

34. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical-power source coupled to the internal power transmitter to provide power thereto.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the electrical-power source includes an electricity generator configured to convert internal body energy from the living subject into electricity that is provided to the internal power transmitter.

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37. A method, comprising:

transmitting a request for information, about one or more operational characteristics of an internal power transmitter, to a receiver, wherein at least the internal power transmitter is disposed within a living subject;

receiving one or more signals delivered out of the living subject from the internal power transmitter in response to the transmitting the request, wherein the one or more signals encode information about the one or more operational characteristics; and

receiving power, at an external device located external to the living subject, that is delivered from the internal power transmitter out of the living subject.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising powering the external device using energy at least associated with the power.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein powering the external device using energy at least associated with the power includes powering the external device using the energy.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein transmitting a request for information about one or more operational characteristics of an internal power transmitter to a receiver includes transmitting the request transdermally into the living subject and to the internal power transmitter.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein transmitting a request for information about one or more operational characteristics of an internal power transmitter to a receiver includes transmitting the request through a portal disposed in the living subject.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein the receiver includes an internal receiver that is disposed in the living subject.

54. The method of claim 37, wherein the power includes at least one of electromagnetic energy, electric energy, electromagnetic energy, radio-frequency energy, magnetic energy, ultrasonic energy, or thermal energy.

55. The method of claim 37, wherein the external device includes an electronic device.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the electronic device includes at least one of a cell phone, a hearing aid, a digital camera, or a personal data assistant.

57. The method of claim 37, further comprising converting the power to the energy.

58. The method of claim 37, further comprising storing the power in the external device.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising delivering the stored power to another external device located external to the living subject.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein delivering the stored power to another external device includes transmitting the stored power.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein delivering the stored power to another external device includes delivering the stored power in a removable battery.

63. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting one or more signals to the receiver authorizing the power to be delivered by the internal power transmitter.

64. The method of claim 37, further comprising locating the internal power transmitter prior to transmitting the request.

65. The method of claim 37, further comprising powering the internal power transmitter with an electrical-power source.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the electrical-power source includes an electricity generator configured to convert internal body energy from the living subject into electricity that is provided to the internal power transmitter.

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68. A method, comprising:

transmitting a request to a receiver to receive power from an internal power transmitter, wherein at least the internal power transmitter is disposed within a living subject; and

receiving power, at an external device located external to the living subject, that is delivered from the internal power transmitter out of the living subject.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the receiver includes an internal receiver that is disposed in the living subject.

70. The method of claim 85, wherein the receiving the power occurs in response to the transmitting the request.

71. The method of claim 68, further comprising powering the external device using energy at least associated with the power.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein powering the external device using energy at least associated with the power includes powering the external device using the energy.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein transmitting a request to a receiver to receive power from an internal power transmitter includes transmitting the request transdermally into the living subject and to the internal power transmitter.

79. The method of claim 68, wherein transmitting a request to a receiver to receive power from an internal power transmitter includes transmitting the request through a portal disposed in the living subject.

80. The method of claim 68, wherein the power includes at least one of electromagnetic energy, electric energy, electromagnetic energy, radio-frequency energy, magnetic energy, ultrasonic energy, or thermal energy.

81. The method of claim 68, wherein the external device includes an electronic device.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the electronic device includes at least one of a cell phone, a hearing aid, a camera, or a personal data assistant.

83. The method of claim 68, further comprising converting the power to the energy.

84. The method of claim 68, further comprising storing the power in the external device.

85. The method of claim 68, further comprising delivering the stored power to another external device located external to the living subject.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein delivering the stored power to another external device includes transmitting the stored power.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein delivering the stored power to another external device includes delivering the stored power in a removable battery.

89. The method of claim 68, further comprising transmitting one or more signals to the internal receiver authorizing the power to be delivered by the internal power transmitter.

90. The method of claim 68, wherein the request includes a request for the power at a selected power level, a request for the power with a selected time profile, a request for a selected amount of the power, or a request for the power at a specific price.

91. The method of claim 68, further comprising sending a request for the internal power transmitter to stop delivering power.

92. The method of claim 68, further comprising paying for the power.

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93. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for information about an internal power transmitter at a receiver associated with the internal power transmitter, wherein the internal power transmitter and the internal receiver are disposed within a living subject; and

delivering the information to an external device that is disposed external to the living subject.

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104. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for action at an internal receiver, wherein the internal power transmitter and the internal receiver are disposed within a living subject; and

in response to the receiving the request, delivering energy from the internal power transmitter to an external device positioned external to the living subject.

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116. An apparatus configured for disposal in a living subject, comprising:

an internal power transmitter configured to deliver energy out of the living subject;

an internal receiver configured to receive and process a request for action from an external device located external to the living subject; and

a biocompatible protective packaging at least partially enclosing the internal power transmitter and the internal receiver.

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