WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER WITH RESONATOR ARRAYS FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

• US 20120248888A1
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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
• Application Number:
  US13/290,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20120248888A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• 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 includes, a load configured to power an implantable 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, and wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator 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 an implantable 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; and

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

2. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the medical device is implantable in a patient.

3. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the first resonator is substantially larger than the second resonator to facilitate the second resonator being implantable in a patient.

4. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the array comprises a repeater electromagnetic resonator that is provided to deliver power from the first electromagnetic resonator to the second electromagnetic resonator.

5. The wireless receiver of claim 4, wherein the repeater electromagnetic resonator is disposed under the skin of a patient.

6. The wireless receiver of claim 4, wherein the repeater electromagnetic resonator is disposed in a wearable pack.

7. A power source for wirelessly providing power to a wireless receiver of an electrically powered implantable 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;

wherein the first electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to a second electromagnetic resonator within the medical device and coupled to a load associated with the medical device to provide non-radiative wireless power to the 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

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.

8. The power source of claim 7, wherein the medical device is implantable in a patient.

9. The power source of claim 7, wherein the first resonator is substantially larger than the second resonator to facilitate the second resonator being implantable in a patient.

10. The power source of claim 7, wherein the array comprises a repeater electromagnetic resonator that is provided to deliver power from the first electromagnetic resonator to the second electromagnetic resonator.

11. The power source of claim 10, wherein the repeater electromagnetic resonator is disposed under the skin of a patient.

12. The power source of claim 10, wherein the repeater electromagnetic resonator is disposed in a wearable pack.

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 an implantable 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; 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,

wherein the first electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to a second electromagnetic resonator within the medical device to provide non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator; 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.

14. The wireless power system of claim 13, wherein the medical device is implantable in a patient.

15. The wireless power system of claim 13, wherein the first resonator is substantially larger than the second resonator to facilitate the second resonator being implantable in a patient.

16. The wireless power system of claim 13, wherein the array comprises a repeater electromagnetic resonator that is provided to deliver power from the first electromagnetic resonator to the second electromagnetic resonator.

17. The wireless power system of claim 16, wherein the repeater electromagnetic resonator is disposed under the skin of a patient.

18. The wireless power system of claim 16, wherein the repeater electromagnetic resonator is disposed in a wearable pack.