MULT-ELEMENT ACOUSTIC RECHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20130110192A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Binh C. Tran, Bin Mi, Keith R Maile, Robert S. Harguth
• Original Assignee: Binh C. Tran, Bin Mi, Keith R Maile, Robert S. Harguth
• Inventors: Tran, Binh C., Mi, Bin, Harguth, Robert S., Maile, Keith R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,731,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An acoustic energy delivery system for delivering acoustic energy to an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The system includes an IMD having a power source and an energy delivery device. The energy delivery device includes a controller and an array of ultrasonic elements electrically coupled to the controller and configured to deliver acoustic energy to the IMD. Methods of delivering acoustic energy to an IMD are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for acoustically powering a satellite pacing device located within a patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:

a satellite pacing device configured to deliver therapy to the body, the satellite pacing device including at least one ultrasonic transducer configured for converting acoustic energy into electrical energy for powering one or more components of the satellite pacing device; and

an energy delivery device configured to transmit an acoustic field through the body to the satellite pacing device, the energy delivery device including an array of ultrasonic transducer elements coupled to a controller, the controller configured to selectively control one or more of the ultrasonic transducer elements of the array for manipulating the acoustic field within the body based at least in part on one or more response signals received from the satellite pacing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more response signals includes an acoustic feedback signal transmitted by the at least one ultrasonic transducer and received on the array of ultrasonic transducer elements.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the acoustic feedback signal includes a measure of the acoustic signal amplitude of an acoustic signal transmitted by each individual ultrasonic transducer element of the array received by the satellite pacing device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite pacing device further includes a sensor for sensing one or more physiological parameters within the body.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to control the array of ultrasonic transducer elements based at least in part on information received from the physiological sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information includes information related to cardiac and/or pulmonary rhythm or function.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy converted by the at least one ultrasonic transducer directly powers one or more components of the satellite pacing device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the array of ultrasonic transducer elements includes at least one piezoelectric transducer element having an active piezoelectric layer, a backing layer, and a matching layer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite pacing device further includes an energy storage device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the array of ultrasonic transducer elements is coupled to a support structure.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the array of ultrasonic elements has a polygonal, circular, annular, symmetric, or asymmetric configuration.

12. A system for acoustically powering an implantable medical device (IMD) located within a patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:

an IMD including at least one ultrasonic transducer configured for converting acoustic energy into electrical energy for powering one or more components of the IMD; and

an energy delivery device configured to transmit an acoustic field through the body to the IMD, the energy delivery device including an array of ultrasonic transducer elements coupled to a controller, the controller configured to selectively control one or more of the ultrasonic transducer elements of the array for manipulating the acoustic field within the body based at least in part on one or more response signals received from the IMD.

13. A method of remotely powering an implantable medical device (IMD) located within a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:

sending one or more acoustic signals from an energy delivery device to the IMD, the one or more acoustic signals configured to prompt the IMD to transmit one or more responsive acoustic signals;

processing one or more responsive acoustic signals sent by the IMD; and

operating an array of ultrasonic transducer elements of the energy delivery device based at least in part on the one or more responsive acoustic signals, wherein the ultrasonic transducer elements are electrically coupled to a controller and are configured to output an acoustic field for delivering acoustic energy to the IMD.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein operating the array includes power cycling one or more ultrasonic elements of the array.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein operating the array includes operating all or a subset of the ultrasonic transducer elements.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein operating the array includes operating a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements in phase.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein operating the array includes manipulating the acoustic field using any combination of adaptive beamforming, beamsteering, or beamshaping.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein operating the array includes manipulating the acoustic field using a time reversal technique.

19. The method of claim 13, further including detecting a reduction in signal amplitude or signal efficiency in the one or more responsive acoustic signals, and wherein operating the array includes operating the array in response to the reduced signal amplitude or signal efficiency.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the IMD is a satellite pacing device.