SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODULAR INTRALUMINAL DEVICE POWER TRANSFER

• US 20170238839A1
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Sweeney, Elizabeth A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,194,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6886 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for providing power transfer between modular intraluminal devices. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a first intraluminal device and a second intraluminal device; the first intraluminal device including a body structure, a sensor, a processor, a data transmitter, and a wireless energy receiver oriented to wirelessly receive energy originating external to the first intraluminal device to power at least one of the sensor, the processor, or the data transmitter; the second intraluminal device including a second body structure, and an energy storage device configured to wirelessly transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device when the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device are positioned within a subject.

Claims

1. An intraluminal traveling system, comprising:

a first intraluminal device, the first intraluminal device including

a body structure dimensioned and structured to travel through a biological lumen of a subject;

a sensor coupled to the body structure, the sensor oriented to detect at least one characteristic of the biological lumen and to generate one or more sense signals;

a processor operably coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to receive the one or more sense signals;

a data transmitter coupled to the body structure and configured to wirelessly transmit one or more data signals associated with the one or more sense signals responsive to instruction by the processor; and

a wireless energy receiver coupled to the body structure and oriented to wirelessly receive energy originating external to the first intraluminal device to power at least one of the sensor, the processor, or the data transmitter; and

a second intraluminal device, the second intraluminal device including

a second body structure dimensioned and structured to travel through the biological lumen of the subject; and

an energy storage device coupled to the second body structure, the energy storage device configured to wirelessly transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device when the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device are positioned within the subject.

2. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device further includes a motive structure.

3. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 2, wherein the motive structure includes at least one of an oscillatory motive mechanism, a vibratory motive mechanism, an actuator-driven bending mechanism, a unimorph actuator, a bimorph actuator, a pneumatic bellow, a lumen-surface-engaging structure, an impelling device, or a jointed appendage.

4. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device further includes a motion-resistive mechanism.

5. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 4, wherein the motion-resistive mechanism includes a wall-engaging structure capable of engaging a wall of the biological lumen to secure at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen.

6. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to direct the motion-resistive mechanism proximate a wall of the biological lumen to secure the first intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen.

7. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to direct the motion-resistive mechanism proximate a wall of the biological lumen to secure the first intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen until the second intraluminal device is within a threshold proximity of the first intraluminal device.

9. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to direct the motion-resistive mechanism proximate a wall of the biological lumen to secure the first intraluminal device with respect to the wall of the biological lumen when a power level of the first intraluminal device is below a threshold power value.

11. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein the second intraluminal device includes a power transmitter coupled to the energy storage device, the power transmitter configured to transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device.

18. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device includes at least one sensor configured to detect the other of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device.

20. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 18, wherein the second intraluminal device includes circuitry that causes the power transmitter to transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device responsive to reaching a threshold distance between the first intraluminal device and the second intraluminal device.

21. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 18, wherein the second intraluminal device includes circuitry that causes the power transmitter to transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device responsive to an orientation of the first intraluminal device relative to the second intraluminal device.

23. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 11, wherein the second intraluminal device includes circuitry that causes the power transmitter to transfer energy stored in the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver of the first intraluminal device responsive to an energy transfer efficiency between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver being above a threshold efficiency.

25. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, further including:

a location determination device, the location determination device configured to determine at least one of an absolute location or a relative location of at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device.

34. The intraluminal traveling system of claim of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to control an angular sensitivity of at least one of the wireless energy receiver or the energy storage device based on the at least one of the absolute location or the relative location.

37. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first intraluminal device or the second intraluminal device includes an actuator configured to initiate transfer of energy from the energy storage device to the wireless energy receiver.

38. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 37, wherein the actuator includes at least one of a mechanical actuator, a fluid-driven actuator, a chemical actuator, an electromechanical actuator, a magnetic actuator, or an electromagnetic actuator.

39. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 37, wherein the processor includes or is operably coupled to a control circuit coupled to the actuator, the control circuit driving the actuator in response to at least one of:

a timer output, a sensor output, or a communication received from a source external to the biological lumen of the subject.

74. The intraluminal traveling system of claim 11, wherein the power transmitter includes at least one of an electromagnetic power transmitter having an electromagnetic coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver, a microwave power transmitter having a microwave coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver, an infrared power transmitter having an infrared coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver, an optical power transmitter having an optical coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver, or an acoustic power transmitter having at least one of an acoustic coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver or an ultrasonic coupling between the energy storage device and the wireless energy receiver.

75. The intraluminal traveling system of claim of claim 25, wherein the location determination device includes at least one of a physical sensor, a chemical sensing device, an optical sensor, a radio frequency device, an acoustic device, a localization beacon, or a magnetic tracking system.

8. (canceled)

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40-73. -73. (canceled)