Process and device for supply of an at least partially implanted active device with electric power
First Claim
1. Process for supplying electric power generated by an implanted thermoelectric power converter to an at least partially implanted active device comprising the steps of:
- positioning a hot pole of said thermoelectric power converter in an area of an implant wearer'"'"'s body in a manner that said hot pole is maintained at substantially the core temperature of the wearer'"'"'s body; and
positioning a cold pole of said thermoelectric power converter in an area of a implant wearer'"'"'s body proximal to an outer skin surface in a manner that said cold pole is maintained at a substantially outer skin temperature of the wearer'"'"'s body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved implantable thermoelectric energy converter for converting thermal energy generated by an implant wearer into electrical power for supplying electric power to an at least partially implanted active device, the implantable thermoelectric energy converter including a hot pole, a cold pole, and a plurality of individual modules electrically coupled to one another disposed between the hot pole and the cold pole. In particular, the hot pole thermally couples one end of the plurality of individual modules to an implantation site having a temperature substantially that of a core body temperature and the cold pole thermally couples another end of the plurality of individual modules to an implantation site closer to an outer skin surface of the implant wearer. In another embodiment, the implantable thermoelectric energy converter may also include an implantable energy storage for collecting and temporarily storing the electric power generated. In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, the cold pole of the implantable thermoelectric energy converter may form a cooling body having an enlarged surface area which is adapted to be positioned directly under a skin surface of the implant wearer. In yet another embodiment, the implantable thermoelectric energy converter may be implanted in the skull or neck area of the implant wearer'"'"'s body.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. Process for supplying electric power generated by an implanted thermoelectric power converter to an at least partially implanted active device comprising the steps of:
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positioning a hot pole of said thermoelectric power converter in an area of an implant wearer'"'"'s body in a manner that said hot pole is maintained at substantially the core temperature of the wearer'"'"'s body; and positioning a cold pole of said thermoelectric power converter in an area of a implant wearer'"'"'s body proximal to an outer skin surface in a manner that said cold pole is maintained at a substantially outer skin temperature of the wearer'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. Process for supplying electric power generated by an implanted thermoelectric power converter to an at least partially implanted active device comprising the steps of:
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positioning a hot pole of said thermoelectric power converter in at least one of an implant wearer'"'"'s skull and the implant wearer'"'"'s neck in a manner that said hot pole is maintained at substantially at the core temperature of the wearer'"'"'s body; and positioning a cold pole of said thermoelectric power converter in an area of a implant wearer'"'"'s body proximal to an outer skin surface of at least one of the implant wearer'"'"'s skull and the implant wearer'"'"'s neck in a manner that said cold pole is maintained at a substantially outer skin temperature of the wearer'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An implantable thermoelectric energy converter for converting thermal energy generated by an implant wearer into electrical power for supplying electric power to an at least partially implanted active device, said implantable thermoelectric energy converter comprising:
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a hot pole; a cold pole; and a plurality of individual modules which are electrically coupled to one another and are disposed between said hot pole and said cold pole; wherein said hot pole is adapted to thermally couple one end of said plurality of individual modules to an implantation site having a temperature substantially that of a core body temperature and said cold pole is adapted to thermally couple another end of said plurality of individual modules to an implantation site which is closer to an outer skin surface of the implant wearer when said thermoelectric energy converter is implanted. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable thermoelectric energy converter for converting thermal energy generated by an implant wearer into electrical power for supplying electric power to an at least partially implanted active device, said implantable thermoelectric energy converter comprising:
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a hot pole; a cold pole; and a plurality of individual modules which are electrically coupled to one another and are disposed between said hot pole and said cold pole; wherein said hot pole is adapted to thermally couple one end of said plurality of individual modules to an implantation site located in at least one of the implant wearer'"'"'s skull and the implant wearer'"'"'s neck having a temperature substantially that of a core body temperature and said cold pole is adapted to thermally couple another end of said plurality of individual modules to an implantation site in at least one of the implant wearer'"'"'s skull and the implant wearer'"'"'s neck closer to an outer body surface of the implant wearer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification