AUTONOMOUS INTRACORPOREAL CAPSULE WITH ENERGY HARVESTING BY PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSDUCER
First Claim
1. An autonomous intracorporeal capsule comprising:
- a body containing therein electronic circuits and an energy harvesting module for supplying power to the electronic circuitry;
the energy harvesting module comprising;
an actuator comprising a moveable surface on the body of the capsule;
a transducer comprising at least a deformable piezoelectric component provided as a beam forced to bend, with a recessed end integral with the body of the capsule and a free end; and
a mechanical connection coupling the free end of the piezoelectric component to the actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous intracorporeal capsule comprises a body containing electronic circuits and an energy harvesting module. The energy harvesting module comprises a moveable surface on the body of the capsule, subjected to pressure variations and to produce a mechanical stress under the effect of the pressure variations, and a transducer comprising a deformable piezoelectric component configured as a beam adapted to be forced to bend. The piezoelectric component has a recessed end integral with the capsule and a free end. A mechanical connection couples the free end of the piezoelectric component to the actuator. The mechanical connection may provide a degree of freedom in rotation between a main direction of the beam and the direction of application of the mechanical stress.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An autonomous intracorporeal capsule comprising:
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a body containing therein electronic circuits and an energy harvesting module for supplying power to the electronic circuitry; the energy harvesting module comprising; an actuator comprising a moveable surface on the body of the capsule; a transducer comprising at least a deformable piezoelectric component provided as a beam forced to bend, with a recessed end integral with the body of the capsule and a free end; and a mechanical connection coupling the free end of the piezoelectric component to the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An energy harvesting module contained in a body, comprising:
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a deformable piezoelectric component having a first end coupled to the body and a second end that is a free end; a connection element extending between the free end of the piezoelectric component and a surface on the body, wherein the connection element applies a mechanical stress produced by pressure variations on the surface of the body to the piezoelectric component, thereby producing bending deformations of the piezoelectric component to generate electric charges; a mechanical connection coupling the free end of the piezoelectric component to the connection element, the mechanical connection providing a degree of freedom in rotation between the main direction of the piezoelectric component and the direction of application of the mechanical stress. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for harvesting energy in an implantable device, comprising:
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receiving an external stress on a moveable surface of a body of the implantable device, generating a mechanical force; transmitting the mechanical force through a connection element to a piezoelectric component, wherein the connection element is coupled between the moveable surface and the piezoelectric component, and wherein the piezoelectric component has a first end rigidly coupled to the body of the implantable device and an opposite free end; producing bending deformations of the piezoelectric component, by transmitting the mechanical force to the free end via the connection element, to generate electric charges; and harvesting energy produced by the bending deformations of the piezoelectric component. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification