METHOD OF MAKING AND USING AN APPARATUS FOR A LOCOMOTIVE MICRO-IMPLANT USING ACTIVE ELECTROMAGNETIC PROPULSION

• US 20130053767A1
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Meng, Teresa H., Pivonka, Daniel Michael, Yakoviev, Anatoly Anatolievich, Poon, Ada Shuk Yan
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/95.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0116 self-propelled, e.g. autonomous robots A61M25/0122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers
• 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: 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 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• 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 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

Described is a locomotive implant for usage within a predetermined magnetic field. In one embodiment magnetohydrodynamics is used to generate thrust with a plurality of electrodes. In another embodiment, asymmetric drag forces are used to generate thrust.

Claims

1. A locomotive implant for usage within a predetermined magnetic field and a fluid comprising:

a body;

a source of power disposed on or within the body;

at least three fluid electrodes disposed on the body, the at least three fluid electrodes providing for a plurality of current paths within the fluid between different ones of the at least three fluid electrodes, in the presence of the predetermined magnetic field, thereby causing a force that moves the locomotive implant; and

a controller disposed on or within the body and adapted to receive directional control signals and to control the plurality of current paths within the fluid using the directional control signals.

2. The locomotive implant according to claim 1, wherein the locomotive implant is directly propelled without using any moving parts to obtain propulsion.

3. The locomotive implant according to claim 2 wherein the directional control signals are used to provide direct steering forces that cause steering of the locomotive implant using torques from loops of wire.

4. The locomotive implant according to claim 2 wherein a direction of motion of the locomotive implant is changed by fluid drag forces.

5. The locomotive implant according to claim 2 wherein buoyancy is adjusted for motion in a third dimension.

6. The locomotive implant according to claim 1 wherein the source of power is one of a wireless power receiver and a wire connected to a power source.

7. The locomotive implant according to claim 2 wherein the body is a capsule body, and wherein the source of power, the plurality of switchable conductors and the controller are disposed within the capsule body.

8. The locomotive implant according to claim 7 wherein the locomotive implant is mm sized.

9. The locomotive implant according to claim 3 wherein the body an insertable device, and wherein the source of power, the plurality of switchable conductors and the controller are disposed within or on the insertable device.

10. The locomotive implant according to claim 9 wherein a direction of motion of the locomotive implant is changed by fluid drag forces.

11. The locomotive implant according to claim 9 wherein the insertable device is a catheter.

12. The locomotive implant according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of switchable conductors provide for a plurality of redundant switchable conductor combinations that each provide a substantially equivalent force.

13. The locomotive implant according to claim 1 further including an electronic sensor attached to the body.

14. The locomotive implant according to claim 1 further including an actuator that dispense medicine based upon a dispenser signal from the controller.

15. The locomotive implant according to claim 1 wherein the at least three fluid electrodes disposed on the body include an electrode pattern of four electrodes disposed in a rectangular configuration and a fifth electrode disposed at a crossing of two lines of the rectangular configuration on one surface of the body.

16. The locomotive implant according to claim 15 wherein the electrode pattern is disposed on a plurality of different surfaces of the body.

17. A locomotive implant for usage within a predetermined magnetic field comprising:

a body having a shape that will experience asymmetric drag forces when rotating;

a source of power disposed on or within the body;

at least one current loop that receives an alternating current, the alternating current causing, in the presence of the predetermined magnetic field, a force that moves the locomotive implant; and

a controller disposed on or within the body and adapted to receive directional control signals and to control the alternating current in the at least one current loop using the directional control signals.

18. The locomotive implant according to claim 17, wherein the entire locomotive implant is rotated or oscillated with no independently moving parts.

19. The locomotive implant according to claim 18 wherein the directional control signals are used to steer the locomotive implant using torques from loops of wire.

20. The locomotive implant according to claim 18 wherein a direction of motion of the locomotive implant is changed by fluid drag forces.

21. The locomotive implant according to claim 18 wherein buoyancy is adjusted for motion in a third dimension.

22. The locomotive implant according to claim 17 wherein the source of power is one of a wireless power receiver and a wire connected to a power source.

23. The locomotive implant according to claim 18 wherein the body is a capsule body, and wherein the source of power, the plurality of switchable current loops and the controller are disposed within the capsule body.

24. The locomotive implant according to claim 23 wherein the locomotive implant is mm sized.

25. The locomotive implant according to claim 19 wherein the body is an insertable device, and wherein the source of power, the plurality of switchable current loops and the controller are disposed within or on the insertable device.

26. The locomotive implant according to claim 25 wherein buoyancy is adjusted for motion in a third dimension.

27. The locomotive implant according to claim 25 wherein the insertable device is a catheter.

28. The locomotive implant according to claim 17 wherein the plurality of switchable current loops provide for a plurality of redundant switchable current loop combinations that each provide torque.

29. The locomotive implant according to claim 17 further including at least three fluid electrodes disposed on the body, the at least three fluid electrodes providing for a plurality of current paths within the fluid between different ones of the at least three fluid electrodes, in the presence of the predetermined magnetic field, thereby causing a force that moves the locomotive implant;

and

wherein the controller is further adapted to receive additional directional control signals and control the plurality of current paths within the fluid using the additional directional control signals.

30. The locomotive implant according to claim 29 further including a plurality of different, independently controllable and independently addressable devices attached to or disposed within the body and coupled to the controller.