Generating electric power in response to activity of a biological system

• US 6,822,343 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Estevez, Leonardo W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J.
• Application Number:
  US10/349,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20030168861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1, 607/2, 607/9, 607/35, 322/1, 322/3, 290/1.R, 417/374, 417/394
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/82 Internal energy supply devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/20 Blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces

Abstract

A device for generating electricity includes a first portion including a first wall defining a first fluid passage and a second portion including a second wall defining a second fluid passage. A generator is coupled between the first and second portions and is capable of generating electricity in response to flow of a fluid from the first fluid passage to the second fluid passage through the generator. The generator is capable of generating electricity sufficient to power one or more electronic devices coupled to the generator. The flow of the fluid is associated with activity of a biological system of a user, for example, cardio-pulmonary activity of the user.

Claims

1. A device for generating electricity in response to cyclical activity of a biological system of a user, comprising:

an inner portion having a first proximity to a surface of the user'"'"'s body and comprising a first collapsible wall defining a inner fluid passage extending in a first direction substantially parallel to the surface of the user'"'"'s body, the inner portion operable to;

expel at least some of a fluid contained in the inner fluid passage from the inner fluid-passage in response to an external force applied to the first wall in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction of the inner fluid passage, the applied external force resulting from expansion of the surface of the user'"'"'s body in connection with the activity of a biological system of the user; and

receive the expelled fluid back into the inner fluid passage in response to the applied external force decreasing as a result of contraction of the surface of the user'"'"'s body in connection with the activity of the biological system;

an outer portion having a second proximity to the surface of the user'"'"'s body and comprising a second collapsible wall defining an outer fluid passage extending in a second direction substantially parallel to the surface of the user'"'"'s body, the second proximity being a greater distance from the surface of the user'"'"'s body than the first proximity, the outer portion operable to;

receive the fluid expelled from the inner fluid passage of the inner portion in response to the applied external force; and

return the expelled fluid to the inner fluid passage in response to the applied external force decreasing; and

a generator coupled between the inner portion and the outer portion, the generator operable to generate electricity according to repeated flow of the fluid from the inner fluid passage of the inner portion to the outer fluid passage of the outer portion through the generator in response to cyclical activity of the biological system, the generator being operable in combination with the inner portion and outer portion to generate electricity sufficient to power one or more electronic devices coupled to the generator.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the device comprises a flexible sleeve suitable to be worn about the user'"'"'s chest, the sleeve supporting the first portion, the second portion, and the generator;

the activity comprises breathing;

the external force applied to the first wall of the inner portion results from expansion of the user'"'"'s chest cavity as the user inhales; and

the applied external force decreases as a result of contraction of the user'"'"'s chest cavity as the user exhales.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the device comprises a flexible cuff suitable to be worn about a limb of the user, the cuff supporting the first portion, the second portion, and the generator;

the activity comprises cyclical flexion and extension of a muscle of the user'"'"'s limb;

the external force applied to the first wall off the inner portion results from expansion of the surface of the user'"'"'s limb as the user flexes the muscle of the user'"'"'s limb; and

the applied external force decreases as a result of extension of the muscle of the user'"'"'s limb.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the generator comprises a direct current (DC) generator comprising a turbine operable, in response to the flow of the fluid from the inner fluid passage to the outer fluid passage through the generator, to rotate a wire coil around an axis and through a magnetic field created by permanent magnets to induce an electric current in the wire coil.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the generator is further operable to generate electricity according to repeated return of the expelled fluid from the outer fluid passage of the outer portion to the inner fluid passage of the inner portion through the generator in response to cyclical activity of the biological system.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of sets of inner portions, outer portions, and generators, each set having substantially the same configuration and operating in substantially the same manner, the plurality of sets operable in cooperation to generate electricity sufficient to power one or more electronic devices.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a coupler operable to house the generator and to couple the inner portion to the outer portion.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises water.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid comprises water and the outer portion is further operable to contain air within the outer fluid passage, the air being in contact with the water at a fluid interface within the outer fluid passage;

the flow of the expelled water from the inner fluid passage to the outer fluid passage causes the fluid interface to move away from the generator along the second direction of the outer fluid passage; and

return of the expelled water to the inner fluid passage from the outer fluid passage causes the fluid interface to move toward the generator along the second direction of the outer fluid passage.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising the one or more electronic devices coupled to the generator, each electronic device capable of operating at least in part using the electricity generated by the generator.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the one or more electronic devices comprise at least one of:

a light;

a radio transmitter;

a two-way radio transceiver;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and

a computer processing device.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising the one or more electronic devices coupled to the generator, each electronic device capable of operating at least in part using the electricity generated by the generator.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the one or more electronic devices comprise at least one of:

a radio transmitter;

a two-way radio transceiver;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver;

a cardiac pacemaker; and

a computer processing device.

12. A device for generating electricity according to flow of a fluid within a fluid passage of a user'"'"'s body, comprising:

an upstream portion comprising a first wall defining a first fluid passage extending between first and second ends of the upstream portion of the device in a direction substantially parallel to the user'"'"'s fluid passage, the first end of the upstream portion of the device being operable to receive a fluid flowing in an upstream portion of the user'"'"'s fluid passage according to the flow of the fluid, the second end of the upstream portion of the device being operable to emit the received fluid according to the flow of the fluid;

a downstream portion comprising a second wall defining a second fluid passage extending between first and second ends of the downstream portion of the device in the direction substantially parallel to the user'"'"'s fluid passage, the first end of the downstream portion of the device being operable to receive the fluid emitted from the upstream portion of the device according to the flow of the fluid, the second end of the downstream portion of the device being operable to emit the received fluid to a downstream portion of the user'"'"'s fluid passage according to the flow of the fluid; and

a generator coupled between the upstream and downstream portions of the device, the generator operable to generate electricity in response to the flow of the fluid from the first fluid passage of the upstream portion of the device to the second fluid passage of the downstream portion of the device through the generator, the generator being operable in combination with the upstream and downstream portions of the device to generate electricity sufficient to power one or more electronic devices coupled to the generator.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the fluid comprises the user'"'"'s blood, the user'"'"'s fluid passage comprises a blood vessel, and the flow of the fluid is the flow of the user'"'"'s blood within the user'"'"'s blood vessel.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the fluid comprises air, the user'"'"'s fluid passage comprises a nasal passage, and the flow of the fluid is the flow of the user'"'"'s blood within the user'"'"'s nasal passage.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the flow of the fluid is associated with exhalation of the air from the user'"'"'s body through the user'"'"'s nasal passage; and

the generator is further operable to generate electricity according to a flow of fluid associated with inhalation of air into the user'"'"'s body through the user'"'"'s nasal passage.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the generator comprises a direct current (DC) generator comprising a turbine operable, in response to the flow of the fluid through the generator, to rotate a wire coil around an axis and through a magnetic field created by permanent magnets to induce an electric current in the wire coil.

17. The device of claim 12, further comprising a coupler operable to house the generator and to couple the upstream portion to the downstream portion.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the device comprises a plurality of sets of upstream portions, downstream portions, and generators, each set having substantially the same configuration and operating in substantially the same manner, the plurality of sets operable in cooperation to generate electricity sufficient to power one or more electronic devices.

21. A method for generating electricity in response to cyclical activity of a biological system of a user, comprising:

using an inner portion having a first proximity to a surface of the user'"'"'s body and comprising a first collapsible wall defining a inner fluid passage extending in a first direction substantially parallel to the surface of the user'"'"'s body;

expelling at least some of a fluid contained in the inner fluid passage from the inner fluid-passage in response to an external force applied to the first wall in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction of the inner fluid passage, the applied external force resulting from expansion of the surface of the user'"'"'s body in connection with the activity of a biological system of the user; and

receiving the expelled fluid back into the inner fluid passage in response to the applied external force decreasing as a result of contraction of the surface of the user'"'"'s body in connection with the activity of the biological system;

using an outer portion having a second proximity to the surface of the user'"'"'s body and comprising a second collapsible wall defining an outer fluid passage extending in a second direction substantially parallel to the surface of the user'"'"'s body, the second proximity being a greater distance from the surface of the user'"'"'s body than the first proximity;

receiving the fluid expelled from the inner fluid passage of the inner portion in response to the applied external force; and

returning the expelled fluid to the inner fluid passage in response to the applied external force decreasing; and

using a generator coupled between the inner portion and the outer portion, generating electricity according to repeated flow of the fluid from the inner fluid passage of the inner portion to the outer fluid passage of the outer portion through the generator in response to cyclical activity of the biological system, the generated electricity being sufficient to power one or more electronic devices coupled to the generator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the inner portion, outer portion, and generator are supported within a flexible sleeve worn about the user'"'"'s chest;

the activity comprises breathing;

the external force applied to the first wall of the inner portion results from expansion of the user'"'"'s chest cavity as the user inhales; and

the applied external force decreases as a result of contraction of the user'"'"'s chest cavity as the user exhales.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the inner portion, outer portion, and generator are supported within a flexible cuff worn about a limb of the user;

the activity comprises cyclical flexion and extension of a muscle of the user'"'"'s limb;

the external force applied to the first wall of the inner portion results from expansion of the surface of the user'"'"'s limb as the user flexes the muscle of the user'"'"'s limb; and

the applied external force decreases as a result of extension of the muscle of the user'"'"'s limb.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the generator comprises a direct current (DC) generator comprising a turbine operable, in response to the flow of the fluid from the inner fluid passage to the outer fluid passage through the generator, to rotate a wire coil around an axis and through a magnetic field created by permanent magnets to induce an electric current in the wire coil.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising using the generator to generate electricity according to repeated return of the expelled fluid from the outer fluid passage of the outer portion to the inner fluid passage of the inner portion through the generator in response to cyclical activity of the biological system.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising using a plurality of sets of inner portions, outer portions, and generators in cooperation to generate electricity sufficient to power one or more electronic devices, each set having substantially the same configuration and operating in substantially the same manner.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the generator is housed within a coupler that couples the inner portion to the outer portion.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the fluid comprises water.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the fluid comprises water and the outer portion is contains air within the outer fluid passage, the air being in contact with the water at a fluid interface within the outer fluid passage;

the flow of the expelled water from the inner fluid passage to the outer fluid passage causes the fluid interface to move away from the generator along the second direction of the outer fluid passage; and

return of the expelled water to the inner fluid passage from the outer fluid passage causes the fluid interface to move toward the generator along the second direction of the outer fluid passage.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more electronic devices comprise at least one of:

a light;

a radio transmitter;

a two-way radio transceiver;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and

a computer processing device.

31. A method for generating electricity according to flow of a fluid within a fluid passage of a user'"'"'s body, comprising:

using an upstream portion comprising a first wall defining a first fluid passage extending between first and second ends of the upstream portion of the device in a direction substantially parallel to the user'"'"'s fluid passage;

receiving, at the first end of the upstream portion of the device, a fluid flowing in an upstream portion of the user'"'"'s fluid passage according to the flow of the fluid;

emitting, from the second end of the upstream portion of the device, the received fluid according to the flow of the fluid; and

using a downstream portion comprising a second wall defining a second fluid passage extending between first and second ends of the downstream portion of the device in the direction substantially parallel to the user'"'"'s fluid passage;

receiving, at the first end of the downstream portion of the device, the fluid emitted from the upstream portion of the device according to the flow of the fluid; and

emitting to a downstream portion of the user'"'"'s fluid passage, from the second end of the downstream portion of the device, the received fluid according to the flow of the fluid; and

using a generator coupled between the upstream and downstream portions of the device, generating electricity in response to the flow of the fluid from the first fluid passage of the upstream portion of the device to the second fluid passage of the downstream portion of the device through the generator, the generated electricity being sufficient to power one or more electronic devices coupled to the generator.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the fluid comprises the user'"'"'s blood, the user'"'"'s fluid passage comprises a blood vessel, and the flow of the fluid is the flow of the user'"'"'s blood within the user'"'"'s blood vessel.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the fluid comprises air, the user'"'"'s fluid passage comprises a nasal passage, and the flow of the fluid is the flow of the user'"'"'s blood within the user'"'"'s nasal passage.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the flow of the fluid is associated with exhalation of the air from the user'"'"'s body through the user'"'"'s nasal passage; and

the method further comprises also using the generator to generate electricity according to a flow of fluid associated with inhalation of air into the user'"'"'s body through the user'"'"'s nasal passage.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the generator comprises a direct current (DC) generator comprising a turbine operable, in response to the flow of the fluid through the generator, to rotate a wire coil around an axis and through a magnetic field created by permanent magnets to induce an electric current in the wire coil.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the generator is housed in a coupler that couples the upstream portion to the downstream portion.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising using a plurality of sets of upstream portions, downstream portions, and generators to generate electricity sufficient to power one or more electronic devices, each set having substantially the same configuration and operating in substantially the same manner.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more electronic devices comprise at least one of:

a radio transmitter;

a two-way radio transceiver;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver;

a cardiac pacemaker; and