AUTOFOCUS WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER TO IMPLANTABLE DEVICES IN FREELY MOVING ANIMALS

• US 20170065828A1
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2014
• 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: HO, John S. Y., MONTGOMERY, Kate L., GROSENICK, Logan, FERENCZI, Emily A., TSAO, Vivien, IYER, Shrivats Mohan, DEISSEROTH, Karl, POON, Ada Shuk Yan, TANABE, Yuji, YEH, Alexander J., DELP, Scott Lee
• Granted Patent: US 10,434,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

A power transmitter is provided that can include a microwave cavity resonant at a desired operating frequency, a hexagonal mesh top to leak evanescent fields out of the cavity, and a plurality of orthogonal monopole feeds with 90 degrees phase differences creating circularly polarized waves. The power transmitter can be configured to transmit energy to a wireless device implanted in an animal passing through the evanescent fields. Implantable devices are also described which can receive wireless energy from the power transmitter and stimulate the animals (e.g., optogenetic or electrical stimulation).

Claims

1. A light delivery system, comprising:

a resonant cavity configured to generate electromagnetic energy and having a surface upon which an animal can be placed; and

a wirelessly powered implantable device adapted to be implanted in the animal, the implantable device comprising;

a circuit board;

a power receiving coil coupled to the circuit board and adapted to receive electromagnetic energy from the resonant cavity;

a rectifier coupled to the circuit board and the power receiving coil and adapted to convert RF energy generated in the power receiving coil into a DC current;

a micro-LED coupled to the circuit board and adapted to provide optogenetic stimulation to the animal.

2. The light delivery system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted on or near the animal'"'"'s brain.

3. The light delivery system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted on or near the animal'"'"'s spinal cord.

4. The light delivery system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted on or near nerve endings of one or more of the animal'"'"'s limbs.

5. The light delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a conductive extension coupling the micro-LED to the circuit board.

6. The light delivery system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is as small as 10 to 25 mm³ in volume.

7. The light delivery system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device has a mass ranging from 20 to 50 mg.

8. A wirelessly powered implantable device adapted to be implanted in an animal, the implantable device comprising:

a circuit board;

a power receiving coil coupled to the circuit board and adapted to receive electromagnetic energy from a resonant cavity;

a rectifier coupled to the circuit board and the power receiving coil and adapted to convert RF energy generated in the power receiving coil into a DC current; and

a micro-LED coupled to the circuit board and adapted to provide optogenetic stimulation to the animal.

9. The implantable device of claim 8, wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted on or near the animal'"'"'s brain.

10. The implantable device of claim 8, wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted on or near the animal'"'"'s spinal cord.

11. The implantable device of claim 8, wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted on or near nerve endings of one or more of the animal'"'"'s limbs.

12. The implantable device of claim 8, further comprising a conductive extension coupling the micro-LED to the circuit board.

13. The implantable device of claim 8, wherein the implantable device is as small as 10 to 25 mm³ in volume.

14. The implantable device of claim 8, wherein the implantable device has a mass ranging from 20 to 50 mg.

15. The implantable device of claim 8, wherein one or more outer turns of the power receiving coil can be bent at an angle with respect to one or more internal turns of the power receiving coil to compensate for rotation of the implantable device.

16. A power transmitter configured to transmit wireless energy to a power receiver, comprising:

a resonant cavity;

a flat surface positioned above the resonant cavity and comprising a surface lattice of subwavelength apertures;

a plurality of monopole feeds disposed in the resonant cavity; and

a signal generator configured to provide power to the plurality of monopole feeds to generate an evanescent field at the surface lattice that transmits wireless energy to the power receiver when the power receiver is brought into proximity with the surface lattice.

17. A method for stimulating an animal, comprising the method steps of:

generating evanescent fields with a power transmitter;

transmitting wireless energy from the power transmitter to a wireless device that is implanted in an animal passing through the evanescent fields; and

stimulating the animal with the wireless device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the generating step comprises generating evanescent fields with one or more monopole feeds disposed in a resonant cavity of the power transmitter.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising allowing the animal to move on or around the power transmitter.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising enclosing the animal into or near the power transmitter.