Self resonant transmitting device

• US 8,831,730 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Original Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Inventors: Mashiach, Adi, Mueller, Carsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US14/059,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 607/42, 607/62, 607/46, 607/116, 607/44
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36189 using modulation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A device for powering an implant within a body of a subject from a location external to the subject, wherein the implant requires a threshold rate of power increase in order to operate in at least one mode, may include an antenna configured to wirelessly transmit energy to the implant. The device may also include a power storage unit configured to store energy from a power source incapable of delivering the threshold rate of power increase to enable the implant unit to operate in the at least one mode and a power release unit configured to release a pulse of energy from the power storage unit to the antenna after the power storage unit collects an amount of energy sufficient to enable the implant unit to operate in the at least one mode.

Claims

1. A device for treating sleep apnea by powering an implant within a body of a subject from a location external to the subject, wherein the implant requires a threshold rate of power increase in order to operate in at least one stimulate a hypoglossal nerve and thereby cause contraction of a genioglossus muscle, the device comprising:

an antenna configured for location between a neck and a chin of the subject and to wirelessly transmit energy to the implant, the antenna being part of a resonant circuit;

a power storage unit configured to store energy from a power source incapable of delivering the threshold rate of power increase to enable the implant unit to operate in the at least one mode; and

a power release unit configured to release a pulse of energy from the power storage unit to the antenna, the pulse of energy being sufficient to enable the implant unit to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve to cause contraction of the genioglossus muscle, and wherein the resonant circuit is configured to generate a signal for transmission to the implant by electrical oscillation in the resonant circuit at a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit when the pulse of energy is received by the resonant circuit.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the antenna is associated with the substrate.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the substrate and the antenna are flexible.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one processor configured to control a mode of operation of the power release unit such that in a first mode of operation the power storage unit receives power from the power source, and in a second mode of operation, the power storage unit releases power to the antenna to cause an oscillation in the primary antenna at a resonance frequency.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to be located external to a subject'"'"'s body.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the power source is configured to generate electrical energy.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the power storage unit is configured to store electrical energy generated by the power source.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the power release unit is configured to control electrical energy transfer between the power source and the power storage unit and between the power storage unit and the antenna, wherein at least the antenna is part of an electrical circuit having a resonance frequency.