BIOLOGICALLY IMPLANTABLE AND ENERGIZED POWER SUPPLY

• US 3,563,245 A
• Filed: 03/15/1968
• Issued: 02/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Saunders, Mclean Donald Neil, Rosensweig Jacob
• Original Assignee: John Saunders, Mclean Donald Neil, Rosensweig Jacob
• Inventors: MCLEAN DONALD NEIL, ROSENSWEIG JACOB, Saunders, John
• Application Number:
  US04/713,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• US Class Current: 607/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/06 with moving flux distributors, and both coil systems and magnets stationary
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1892 Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an electric generation system or device which finds useful application in the power supply units of totally implanted electronic devices such as heart pacemakers; it is particularly intended as an advantageous alternative to limited duration implantable power supplies generally used. The resulting novel power supply unit utilizes fluid pressure transfer means for tapping a small fraction of the energy derived from the muscular contractions of the heart and transmitting same to a remotely implanted generator wherein the tapped energy is converted to electrical energy.

Claims

1. A biologically implantable and energized power supply for implanted electric and electronic devices, comprising:

a. Fluid pressure sensing means to be disposed inside a heart ventricle for detecting fluid pressure variations therein;

b. an energy conversion unit to be disposed outside the heart;

c. fluid pressure transfer means connected to said fluid pressure sensing means and to said energy conversion units;

said energy conversion unit comprising;

d. means for converting said fluid pressure variations into reciprocal motion;

e. an electromagnetic generator having a reciprocally rotatable armature;

f. means for communicating said reciprocal motion to the reciprocally rotatable armature and thereby convert same therein to corresponding alternating current pulses of electrical energy;

g. rectifier means connected to said electromagnetic generator for rectification of said alternating current of electrical energy to corresponding direct current pulses of electrical energy;

h. accumulator means connected to said rectifier means for storage therein of the energy in said direct current pulses of electrical energy; and

i. connector means connected to said accumulator means for connection thereto of said implanted electric and electronic devices.

2. A biologically implantable and energized power supply as claimed in claim 1, wherein, collectively, said fluid pressure sensing means, fluid pressure transfer means and, means for converting fluid pressure variations into reciprocal motion, comprise a closed fluid system which includes a pair of fluid filled expansible bodies aNd a flexible tubular conduit connected to said expansible bodies and extending between them.

3. A biologically implantable and energized power supply as claimed in claim 2, wherein said closed fluid system is pneumatic.

4. A biologically implantable and energized power supply comprising:

a. Fluid filled pressure sensing and transfer means consisting of a first expansible chamber forming device adapted to be disposed within a heart ventricle, a tubular member connected at one end to said first expansible chamber forming device and adapted to extend therefrom through at least one heart valve and to extend outwardly toward a body a position remotely disposed with respect to the heart, a second expansible chamber forming device is connected to the other end of said tubular member;

b. said first and second chamber forming devices and tubular member containing a pneumatic fluid;

c. means associated with said second expansible chamber forming device whereby to convert expansions and contractions thereof into corresponding reciprocal motion;

d. an electromagnetic generator;

e. mechanical means for applying said reciprocal motion to the electromagnetic generator and cause generation thereby of a corresponding alternating current of electricity;

f. rectifier means electrically connected to said generator for effecting conversion of said alternating current of electricity into a pulsed direct current of electricity;

g. capacitive means connected to said rectifier means for accumulation and storage therein of said electricity; and

h. means for connection to said capacitive means of electrically operating implanted devices.

5. A biologically implantable and energized power supply for implanted power consuming devices comprising:

a. Detector means adapted to be disposed in the heart and whereby to produce a pneumatic signal in response to the blood pressure variations detected therein;

b. translation means adapted to be disposed outside the heart, whereby to transform pneumatic pressure variations into reciprocal motion;

c. tubular conduit means connecting said detector and translation means for transmission therethrough of the pneumatic signal of and from the detector to the translation means;

d. an electromagnetic generator having a reciprocally rotatable armature;

e. mechanical means for communicating said reciprocal motion to said armature and thereby cause generation of a correspondingly pulsed alternative current of electrical energy;

f. rectifier means electrically connected to said electromagnetic generator for converting the pulsed alternative current of electrical energy to a similarly pulsed direct current of electrical energy;

g. accumulator means electrically connected to said rectifier means for storage therein of the energy from said pulsed direct current of electrical energy; and

h. connector means on said accumulator means for connection thereto thereby of said implanted power consuming devices.

6. A biologically implantable and energized power supply, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the implanted power consuming device connected to said accumulator is a cardiac pulse generator wherefrom a pulsed electrical signal produced therein is directed through an insulated electrical wire conductor to an electrode adapted to be disposed inside the heart and, wherein said insulated electrical wire conductor is disposed in and coextensive with the said tubular conduit means.