Methods, devices and systems for transmission between an implanted device and an external device

• US 8,639,347 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Rivet, Dennis J., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H., Hyde, Roderick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US12/658,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems including an internal power transmitter that delivers energy out of a living subject to power at least one external device that is in communication with the internal power transmitter, and related apparatuses, devices, and methods of use.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting a request for information, about one or more operational characteristics of an internal power transmitter, to a receiver, wherein at least the internal power transmitter is disposed within a living subject;

receiving one or more signals delivered out of the living subject from the internal power transmitter in response to the transmitting the request, wherein the one or more signals encode information about the one or more operational characteristics;

receiving power, at an external device located external to the living subject, that is delivered from the internal power transmitter out of the living subject; and

powering the external device using energy at least associated with the power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein powering the external device using energy at least associated with the power includes powering the external device using the energy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a request for information about one or more operational characteristics of an internal power transmitter to a receiver includes transmitting the request transdermally into the living subject and to the internal power transmitter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a request for information about one or more operational characteristics of an internal power transmitter to a receiver includes transmitting the request through a portal disposed in the living subject.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes an internal receiver that is disposed in the living subject.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the power includes at least one of electromagnetic energy, electric energy, electromagnetic energy, radio-frequency energy, magnetic energy, ultrasonic energy, or thermal energy.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the external device includes an electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic device includes at least one of a cell phone, a hearing aid, a digital camera, or a personal data assistant.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the power to one or more types of energy.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the power in the external device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising delivering the stored power to another external device located external to the living subject.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein delivering the stored power to another external device includes transmitting the stored power.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein delivering the stored power to another external device includes delivering the stored power in a removable battery.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting one or more signals to the receiver authorizing the power to be delivered by the internal power transmitter.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the internal power transmitter prior to transmitting the request.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising powering the internal power transmitter with an electrical-power source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the electrical-power source includes an electricity generator configured to convert internal body energy from the living subject into electricity that is provided to the internal power transmitter.

18. An apparatus configured for disposal in a living subject, comprising:

an internal power transmitter configured to deliver energy out of the living subject, the energy configured to power an external device located external to the living subject;

an internal receiver configured to receive and process a request for action from the external device; and

a biocompatible protective packaging at least partially enclosing the internal power transmitter and the internal receiver.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the request for action includes a request for information about one or more operational characteristics of the internal power transmitter or a request for authorization for the internal power transmitter to deliver the energy.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more operational characteristics include power level of the energy, frequency of the energy, pulse duration of the energy, time profile of the energy, type of the energy, delivery characteristics of the energy, price of the energy, location of the internal power transmitter, or amount of available energy for the internal power transmitter to deliver.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the request for action includes a request for the energy at a selected power level, a request for the energy with a selected time profile, a request for a selected amount of the energy, or a request for the energy at a specific price.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the request for action includes a request for the energy at a specific price.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the internal power transmitter is configured to transmit the energy transdermally out of the living subject.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the internal power transmitter is configured to transmit the energy as at least one of electrical, electromagnetic, radio-frequency, optical, ultrasonic, thermal, or magnetic energy.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the internal power transmitter is configured to transmit the energy through a portal in the living subject.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a processor coupled to the internal receiver to receive the request for action therefrom and determine a response thereto.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising memory electrical circuitry coupled to the internal power transmitter, the memory electrical circuitry configured to store information about the energy delivered by the internal power transmitter.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a location-identifying device configured to locate the internal power transmitter in the living subject.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising an electricity generator configured to convert internal body energy from the living subject into electricity that powers the internal power transmitter.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the biocompatible protective packaging includes a biocompatible protective coating.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the biocompatible protective coating includes at least one of a biocompatible polymer or biocompatible ceramic.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the biocompatible polymer includes at least one of polyxylene, polyethylene, poly(ethylene oxide), polyurethane, or poly(butylene terephthalate).

33. A method, comprising:

transmitting a request for information, about one or more operational characteristics of an internal power transmitter, to a receiver, wherein at least the internal power transmitter is disposed within a living subject;

receiving one or more signals delivered out of the living subject from the internal power transmitter in response to the transmitting the request, wherein the one or more signals encode information about the one or more operational characteristics;

receiving power, at an external device located external to the living subject, that is delivered from the internal power transmitter out of the living subject;

storing the power in the external device;

delivery the stored power to another external device located external to the living subject, wherein delivering the stored power includes transmitting the stored power and delivering the stored power in a removable battery.