WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER WITH RESONATOR ARRAYS FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

• US 20120239117A1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Kesler, Morris P., Hall, Katherine L., Campanella, Andrew J., Karalis, Aristeidis, Kurs, Andre B., Soljacic, Marin, Kulikowski, Konrad
• Granted Patent: US 8,901,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance

Abstract

A medical device-powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply. The wireless receiver includes a load configured to power the medical device using electrical power, and a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed within the medical device and configured to be coupled to the load, at least one other electromagnetic resonator configured with the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator in an array of electromagnetic resonators to distribute power over an area, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the array to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator.

Claims

1. A medical device-powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply, first electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₁, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₁, and a first Q-factor Q₁=ω

₁/2Γ

₁, the wireless receiver comprising;

a load configured to power the medical device using electrical power; and

a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed within the medical device and configured to be coupled to the load, the second electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₂, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₂, and a second Q-factor Q₂=ω

₂/2Γ

₂;

at least one other electromagnetic resonator configured with the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator in an array of electromagnetic resonators to distribute power over an area;

wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the array to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator; and

wherein the square root of the product of the respective Q factors is greater than 100.

2. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic resonator is associated with a medical cart.

3. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is associated with a medical device that is charged by being in proximity to the medical cart.

4. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the array includes electromagnetic resonators of varying size.

5. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the array is arranged in a surgical environment.

6. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the array is arranged in proximity to a patient.

7. A power source for wirelessly providing power to a wireless receiver of an electrically powered medical device, the power source comprising:

a power supply, the power supply configured to supply power at a rate sufficient to charge the battery of a medical device; and

a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to the power supply and having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₁, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₁, and a first Q-factor Q₁=ω

₁/2Γ

₁, the first electromagnetic resonator housed in a housing configured to be disposed remotely from the medical device;

at least one other electromagnetic resonator configured with the first electromagnetic resonator in an array of electromagnetic resonators to distribute power over an area;

wherein the first electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the array and coupled to a load associated with the medical device to provide non-radiative wireless power to a second electromagnetic resonator, the second electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₂, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₂, and a second Q-factor Q₂=ω

₂/2Γ

₂; and

wherein the square root of the product of the respective Q factors is greater than 100.

8. The power source of claim 7, wherein the first electromagnetic resonator is associated with a medical cart.

9. The power source of claim 7, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is associated with a medical device that is charged by being in proximity to the medical cart.

10. The power source of claim 7, wherein the array includes electromagnetic resonators of varying size.

11. The power source of claim 7, wherein the array is arranged in a surgical environment.

12. The power source of claim 7, wherein the array is arranged in proximity to a patient.

13. A medical device wireless power system, comprising:

a power supply, the power supply configured to supply power at a rate sufficient to charge the battery of a medical device;

a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to the power supply and having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₁, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₁, and a first Q-factor Q₁=ω

₁/2Γ

₁, the first electromagnetic resonator housed in a housing configured to be disposed remotely from the medical device;

a load configured to power the medical device using electrical power;

a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed within the medical device and configured to be coupled to the load, the second electromagnetic resonator having a mode with a resonant frequency ω

₂, an intrinsic loss rate Γ

₂, and a second Q-factor Q₂=ω

₂/2Γ

₂; and

at least one other electromagnetic resonator configured with the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator in an array of electromagnetic resonators to distribute power over an area;

wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the array to provide non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator; and

wherein the square root of the product of the respective Q factors is greater than 100.

14. The wireless power system of claim 13, wherein the first electromagnetic resonator is associated with a medical cart.

15. The wireless power system of claim 13, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is associated with a medical device that is charged by being in proximity to the medical cart.

16. The wireless power system of claim 13, wherein the array includes electromagnetic resonators of varying size.

17. The wireless power system of claim 13, wherein the array is arranged in a surgical environment.

18. The wireless power system of claim 13, wherein the array is arranged in proximity to a patient.