ELECTROMAGNETIC POWER BIO-MEDICAL UNIT

• US 20110077719A1
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Application Number:
  US12/626,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077719A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, a processing module, memory, and one or more functional modules. The power harvesting module is operable to receive magnetic field energy and convert the magnetic field energy into a supply voltage. The power harvesting module powers the processing module, memory, and the one or more functional modules via the supply voltage.

Claims

1. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to;

receive magnetic field energy; and

convert the magnetic field energy into a supply voltage;

a processing module powered by the supply voltage;

memory operably coupled to the processing module and powered by the supply voltage; and

one or more functional modules operably coupled to the processing module and powered by the supply voltage.

2. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting module is further operable to:

receive varying gradient magnetic fields of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals, wherein the magnetic field energy include the MRI signals;

induce an alternating current from the varying gradient magnetic fields;

convert the alternating current into a voltage; and

regulate the voltage to produce the supply voltage.

3. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting module is further operable to:

receive radio frequency (RF) transmission burst signals of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals, wherein the magnetic field energy include the MRI signals;

convert the RF transmission burst signals into a voltage; and

regulate the voltage to produce the supply voltage.

4. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting module comprises:

an array of air core inductors operably coupled to produce an AC voltage from the magnetic field energy;

a rectifier circuit operably coupled to rectify the AC voltage to produce a voltage; and

a regulation circuit operably coupled to regulate the voltage to produce the supply voltage.

5. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting module comprises:

a plurality of air core inductors;

a plurality of switching elements coupled to the plurality of inductors, wherein, based on a control signal, the plurality of switching interconnect at least some of the plurality of inductors to produce a configured inductor and wherein the configured inductor produces an AC voltage from the magnetic field energy;

a rectifier circuit operably coupled to rectify the AC voltage to produce the supply voltage; and

a switch controller operably coupled to generate the control signal such that the supply voltage is at a desired voltage level.

6. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting module comprises:

a plurality of Hall effect devices operable to generate a plurality of voltages from the magnetic field energy; and

a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the plurality of voltages to produce the supply voltage.

7. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting module comprises:

a plurality of piezoelectric devices operable to generate a plurality of voltages from the magnetic field energy, wherein a piezoelectric device of the plurality of piezoelectric devices is doped with a magnetic material to induce motion; and

a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the plurality of voltages to produce the supply voltage.

8. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting module comprises at least two of:

a first power harvesting unit that includes;

an array of air core inductors operably coupled to produce an AC voltage from the magnetic field energy;

a rectifier circuit operably coupled to rectify the AC voltage to produce a voltage; and

a regulation circuit operably coupled to regulate the voltage to produce a first supply voltage;

a second power harvesting unit that includes;

a plurality of air core inductors;

a plurality of switching elements coupled to the plurality of inductors, wherein, based on a control signal, the plurality of switching interconnect at least some of the plurality of inductors to produce a configured inductor and wherein the configured inductor produces an AC voltage from the magnetic field energy;

a rectifier circuit operably coupled to rectify the AC voltage to produce a second supply voltage; and

a switch controller operably coupled to generate the control signal such that the second supply voltage is at a desired voltage level;

a third power harvesting unit that includes;

a plurality of Hall effect devices operable to generate a first plurality of voltages from the magnetic field energy; and

a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the first plurality of voltages to produce a third supply voltage;

a fourth power harvesting unit that includes;

a plurality of piezoelectric devices operable to generate a second plurality of voltages from the magnetic field energy, wherein a piezoelectric device of the plurality of piezoelectric devices is doped with a magnetic material to induce motion; and

a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the second plurality of voltages to produce a fourth supply voltage; and

a supply voltage circuit operably coupled to generate the supply voltage from at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth supply voltages.

9. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

an integrated circuit (IC) die that support the power harvesting module, the processing module, the memory, and the one or more functional modules, wherein traces of the IC die are non-magnetic and electrically conductive.

10. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

a second power harvesting module that includes;

a plurality of piezoelectric devices operable to generate a plurality of voltages based on an ultrasound signal; and

a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the plurality of voltages to produce a second supply voltage.

11. A power harvesting module comprises:

an energy conversion unit operably coupled to;

receive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals; and

produce one or more voltages from the MRI signals; and

a supply voltage generation circuit operably coupled to convert the one or more voltages into a supply voltage.

12. The power harvesting module of claim 11, wherein the energy conversion unit is further operable to:

receive varying gradient magnetic fields of the MRI signals;

induce an alternating current from the varying gradient magnetic fields; and

convert the alternating current into the one or more voltage.

13. The power harvesting module of claim 11, wherein the energy conversion unit is further operable to:

receive radio frequency (RF) transmission burst signals of the MRI signals; and

convert the RF transmission burst signals into the one or more voltage.

14. The power harvesting module of claim 11 further comprises:

the energy conversion unit including;

an array of air core inductors operably coupled to produce an AC voltage from the MRI signals; and

a rectifier circuit operably coupled to rectify the AC voltage to produce the one or more voltages;

the supply voltage generation circuit including a regulation circuit operably coupled to regulate the one or more voltages to produce the supply voltage.

15. The power harvesting module of claim 11 further comprises:

the energy conversion unit including;

a plurality of air core inductors; and

a plurality of switching elements coupled to the plurality of inductors, wherein, based on a control signal, the plurality of switching interconnect at least some of the plurality of inductors to produce a configured inductor and wherein the configured inductor produces an AC voltage from the MRI signals, wherein the AC voltage corresponds to the one or more voltages;

the supply voltage generation circuit including;

a rectifier circuit operably coupled to rectify the AC voltage to produce the supply voltage; and

a switch controller operably coupled to generate the control signal such that the supply voltage is at a desired voltage level.

16. The power harvesting module of claim 11 further comprises:

the energy conversion unit including a plurality of Hall effect devices operable to generate a plurality of voltages the one or more voltages from the MRI signals, wherein the plurality of voltages corresponds to the one or more voltages; and

the supply voltage generation circuit including a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the plurality of voltages to produce the supply voltage.

17. The power harvesting module of claim 11 further comprises:

the energy conversion unit including a plurality of piezoelectric devices operable to generate a plurality of voltages from the MRI signals, wherein a piezoelectric device of the plurality of piezoelectric devices is doped with a magnetic material to induce motion and wherein the plurality of voltages corresponds to the one or more voltages; and

the supply voltage generation circuit including a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the plurality of voltages to produce the supply voltage.

18. The power harvesting module of claim 11 further comprises at least two of:

a first power harvesting unit that includes;

a first energy conversion unit including;

an array of air core inductors operably coupled to produce an AC voltage from the MRI signals, wherein the one or more voltages includes the AC voltage corresponds;

a rectifier circuit operably coupled to rectify the AC voltage to produce a voltage; and

a first supply voltage generation circuit including a regulation circuit operably coupled to regulate the voltage to produce a first supply voltage;

a second power harvesting unit that includes;

a second energy conversion unit including;

a plurality of air core inductors; and

a plurality of switching elements coupled to the plurality of inductors, wherein, based on a control signal, the plurality of switching interconnect at least some of the plurality of inductors to produce a configured inductor and wherein the configured inductor produces an AC voltage from the MRI signals, wherein the one or more voltages include the AC voltage;

a second supply voltage generation circuit including;

a rectifier circuit operably coupled to rectify the AC voltage to produce a second supply voltage; and

a switch controller operably coupled to generate the control signal such that the second supply voltage is at a desired voltage level;

a third power harvesting unit that includes;

a third energy conversion unit including a plurality of Hall effect devices operable to generate a first plurality of voltages from the MRI signals, wherein the one or more voltages includes the first plurality of voltages; and

a third supply voltage generation circuit including a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the first plurality of voltages to produce a third supply voltage;

a fourth power harvesting unit that includes;

a fourth energy conversion unit including;

a plurality of piezoelectric devices operable to generate a second plurality of voltages from the MRI signals, wherein a piezoelectric device of the plurality of piezoelectric devices is doped with a magnetic material to induce motion and wherein the one or more voltages includes the second plurality of voltages; and

a fourth supply voltage generation circuit including a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the second plurality of voltages to produce a fourth supply voltage; and

a supply voltage circuit operably coupled to generate the supply voltage from at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth supply voltages.

19. A power harvesting module comprises:

an energy conversion unit operably coupled to;

receive an ultrasound signal; and

produce one or more voltages from the ultrasound signal; and

a supply voltage generation circuit operably coupled to convert the one or more voltages into a supply voltage.

20. The power harvesting module of claim 19 further comprises:

the energy conversion unit including a plurality of piezoelectric devices operable to generate a plurality of voltages from the ultrasound signal, wherein the plurality of voltages corresponds to the one or more voltages; and

the supply voltage generation circuit including a power combining module operably coupled to selectively combine the plurality of voltages to produce the supply voltage.