3-coil wireless power transfer system for eye implants
First Claim
1. An inductively-powered eye implant apparatus comprising:
- a buffer coil adapted to be affixed external to a sclera of an eye, the buffer coil having a conductor covered by a biocompatible layer;
a receiver coil comprising a folded electrically insulative sheet of embedded conductor traces, the folded sheet wound into a spiral form, the receiver coil suitable to be pinched for implantation within a lens capsule of the eye, the receiver coil adapted for receiving electrical power by electromagnetic induction through the buffer coil from a transmitter coil, the buffer coil and receiving coil adapted to be electromagnetically coupled when affixed external to and implanted within the eye, respectively; and
a processing circuit connected with the conductor of the receiver coil and configured to receive electrical power from the receiver coil.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three-coil electromagnetic induction power transfer system is disclosed for epiretinal prostheses and other implants. A third, buffer coil is disposed between an external transmitting coil and a receiver coil buried within the body to improve efficiency and robustness to misalignments. One or more of the coils can be manufactured using micromechanical machining techniques to lay out conductors in a ribbon of biocompatible insulator, folding lengths of the insulated conductor traces longitudinally over one another, and then spiraling them into a ring. The traces change axial position in the ring by shifting across fold lines. One or more U-shaped sections on the traces can be folded so that adjacent traces can project opposite one another, lengthening the resulting ribbon that can be wound into a coil.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An inductively-powered eye implant apparatus comprising:
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a buffer coil adapted to be affixed external to a sclera of an eye, the buffer coil having a conductor covered by a biocompatible layer; a receiver coil comprising a folded electrically insulative sheet of embedded conductor traces, the folded sheet wound into a spiral form, the receiver coil suitable to be pinched for implantation within a lens capsule of the eye, the receiver coil adapted for receiving electrical power by electromagnetic induction through the buffer coil from a transmitter coil, the buffer coil and receiving coil adapted to be electromagnetically coupled when affixed external to and implanted within the eye, respectively; and a processing circuit connected with the conductor of the receiver coil and configured to receive electrical power from the receiver coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An inductively-powered eye implant apparatus comprising:
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a buffer coil adapted to be affixed external to a sclera of an eye, the buffer coil having a conductor covered by a biocompatible layer; a sclera lens encasing the buffer coil, the sclera lens adapted to be worn on the sclera to thereby affix the buffer coil external to the sclera of the eye; a receiver coil adapted for implantation within the eye, the receiver coil having a conductor covered by a biocompatible layer, the receiver coil adapted for receiving electrical power by electromagnetic induction through the buffer coil from a transmitter coil, the buffer coil and receiving coil adapted to be electromagnetically coupled when affixed external to and implanted within the eye, respectively; and a processing circuit connected with the conductor of the receiver coil and configured to receive electrical power from the receiver coil. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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11. An inductively-powered eye implant apparatus comprising:
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a buffer coil adapted to be affixed external to a sclera of an eye, the buffer coil having a conductor covered by a biocompatible layer; a receiver coil adapted for implantation within the eye, the receiver coil having a conductor covered by a biocompatible layer, the receiver coil adapted for receiving electrical power by electromagnetic induction through the buffer coil from a transmitter coil, the buffer coil and receiving coil adapted to be electromagnetically coupled when affixed external to and implanted within the eye, respectively, the receiver coil having an equivalent mass equal to or less than 10 milligrams in aqueous solution; a sealed cavity attached to the receiver coil; a fluid disposed within the sealed cavity, the fluid having a specific gravity less than aqueous solution, thereby adding buoyancy to the receiver coil; and a processing circuit connected with the conductor of the receiver coil and configured to receive electrical power from the receiver coil. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification