Multi-element coupler for generation of electromagnetic energy

• US 9,687,664 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Poon, Ada Shuk Yan, Yeh, Alexander Jueshyan, Tanabe, Yuji, Ho, John, Kim, Sanghoek
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/022,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20160220828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1207 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/004 With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 : Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 : Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 : Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 : in combination with non-electric therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 : controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 : Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 : Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 : Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 : Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 : Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 : Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 : using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 : characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 : Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Implantable devices and/or sensors can be wirelessly powered by controlling and propagating electromagnetic waves in a patient'"'"'s tissue. Such implantable devices/sensors can be implanted at target locations in a patient, to stimulate areas such as the heart, brain, spinal cord, or muscle tissue, and/or to sense biological, physiological, chemical attributes of the blood, tissue, and other patient parameters. The propagating electromagnetic waves can be generated with sub-wavelength structures configured to manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate the propagating waves inside the tissue. Methods of use are also described.

Claims

1. A wireless power system, comprising:

an external module having one or more sub-wavelength structures configured to transmit wireless power by manipulating evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate propagating fields inside the patient'"'"'s tissue and thereby generate a spatially focused field in tissue; and

an implantable module configured to receive the wireless power from the external module, the implantable module including at least one sensor or stimulator configured to sense a parameter of the tissue or apply stimulation to the tissue.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a chemical sensor, a pressure sensor, and oxygen sensor, a PH sensor, a flow sensor, an electrical sensor, a strain sensor, a magnetic sensor, and an imaging sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one stimulator is selected from the group consisting of an electrical stimulator, an optical stimulator, a chemical stimulator, and a mechanical stimulator.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the implantable device comprises a modular design that allows interchangeable sensors and/or stimulators.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more sub-wavelength structures are selected from the group consisting of a patch, a PIFA, a slot in a ground plane, a cross slot in a ground plane, an aperture coupled circular slot in a ground plane, and a half slot in a ground plane.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the external module further comprises:

one or more excitation ports coupled to the one or more sub-wavelength structures;

at least one voltage source coupled to the one or more excitation ports; and

a controller configured to adjust a phase and/or an amplitude delivered to the one or more sub-wavelength structures to adjust a position of a focal point of the spatially focused field in the tissue.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the controller is configured to detect a power level of received wireless energy from the implanted module, and is configured to provide feedback to automatically adjust the position of the focal point to optimize wireless power transmission.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the implantable module is configured to be implanted on, in, or near a heart to apply lead less pacing to the heart.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the implantable module is configured to be implanted on, in, or near a brain to apply deep brain stimulation to the brain.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the implantable module is configured to be implanted on, in, or near a spinal cord to apply stimulation to the spinal cord.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the implantable module is configured to be implanted on, in, or near a muscular tissue of the tongue to apply stimulation to the tongue to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

12. A method of providing therapy to a patient, comprising:

transmitting a mid-field propagating wave to a wireless power receiving module to power the module, the transmitting including manipulating evanescent fields outside of the patient'"'"'s tissue to generate propagating fields inside the patient'"'"'s tissue and thereby generate a spatially focused field in the tissue;

sensing a parameter of the patient with the wireless power receiving module; and

providing a therapy to the patient with the wireless power receiving module based on the sensed parameter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the wave with a sub-wavelength structure that produces a magnetic field perpendicular to the wave and parallel to the patient'"'"'s tissue interface.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting a focal point of the propagating wave to optimize wireless power transmission to the module.

15. A method of cardiac pacing in a patient, comprising:

transmitting a mid-field propagating wave to a wireless power receiving module to power the module, the transmitting including manipulating evanescent fields outside of the patient'"'"'s tissue to generate propagating fields inside the patient'"'"'s tissue and thereby generate a spatially focused field in the tissue;

sensing a parameter of the patient'"'"'s heart with the wireless power receiving module; and

providing electrical pacing to the heart with the wireless power receiving module based on the sensed parameter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the wave with a sub-wavelength structure that produces a magnetic field perpendicular to the wave and parallel to the patient'"'"'s tissue interface.

17. A method of deep brain stimulation, comprising:

transmitting a mid-field propagating wave to a wireless power receiving module to power the module, the transmitting including manipulating evanescent fields outside of the patient'"'"'s tissue to generate propagating fields inside the patient'"'"'s tissue and thereby generate a spatially focused field in the tissue;

sensing a parameter of the brain with the wireless power receiving module; and

providing stimulation to the brain with the wireless power receiving module based on the sensed parameter.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the wave with a sub-wavelength structure that produces a magnetic field perpendicular to the wave and parallel to the patient'"'"'s tissue interface.

19. A method of stimulating tissue, comprising:

transmitting a mid-field propagating wave to a wireless power receiving module to power the module, the transmitting including manipulating evanescent fields outside of the patient'"'"'s tissue to generate propagating fields inside the patient'"'"'s tissue and thereby generate a spatially focused field in the tissue;

sensing a parameter of the tissue with the wireless power receiving module; and

providing stimulation to the tissue with the wireless power receiving module based on the sensed parameter.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising adjusting a focal point of the propagating wave to optimize wireless power transmission to the module.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the wave with a sub-wavelength structure that produces a magnetic field perpendicular to the wave and parallel to a tissue interface.

22. An apparatus configured to transfer wireless power through tissue, comprising:

a substrate;

at least one sub-wavelength structure disposed on the substrate;

at least one radio-frequency port coupled to the at least one sub-wavelength structure;

a voltage or current source coupled to the at least one radio-frequency port; and

a controller configured to manage excitation of the at least one radio-frequency port and sub-wavelength structure with the voltage or current source to manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate propagating fields inside the tissue and thereby generate a spatially focused field in the tissue.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of the at least one sub-wavelength structure is coupled to a respective independent radio-frequency port.

24. An apparatus configured to transfer wireless power through tissue, comprising:

a plurality of sub-wavelength structures configured and arranged to generate propagating fields inside tissue and thereby generate a spatially adaptable electromagnetic field in the tissue;

a plurality of independent feed ports configured and arranged to individually excite a respective one of the plurality of sub-wavelength structures thereby generating the spatially adaptable electromagnetic field; and

a controller configured to control the excitation of the respective sub-wavelength structures to redistribute a peak surface tissue absorption of the electromagnetic field.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the plurality of sub-wavelength structures are further configured and arranged to generate an adaptive steering field in tissue.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spatially focusing and adaptive steering field/signal has a frequency between 300 MHz and 3000 MHz.