Method for generation of power from intraluminal pressure changes

• US 9,759,202 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Deep Science LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Leuthardt, Eric C., Smith, Michael A., Wood, Jr., Lowell L., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/315,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20100140956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,204 Days
• Field of Search: 290 1 R, 290 10, 600 16, 607 35
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/04 using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature F03G7/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for extracting power from intraluminal pressure changes may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) receiving an intraluminal pressure change; (b) converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator; and (c) storing the energy in an energy storage apparatus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said at least one energy storage apparatus being a mechanical energy storage apparatus.

2. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said apparatus being a pressure energy storage apparatus.

3. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus, said providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus comprises;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via a mechanical coupling; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said at least one energy storage apparatus selected from at least one of;

an ultracapacitor, a mechanical energy storage apparatus, a pressure energy storage apparatus, a chemical energy storage apparatus and a fuel cell.

4. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus, said providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus comprises;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via a fluid coupling; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said at least one energy storage apparatus selected from at least one of;

an ultracapacitor, a mechanical energy storage apparatus, a pressure energy storage apparatus, a chemical energy storage apparatus and a fuel cell.

5. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus, said providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus comprises;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via an acoustical coupling; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said at least one energy storage apparatus selected from at least one of;

an ultracapacitor, a mechanical energy storage apparatus, a pressure energy storage apparatus, a chemical energy storage apparatus and a fuel cell.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via an acoustical coupling comprises:

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via a resonant transmitter and receiver.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via an acoustical coupling comprises:

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via a resonant transmitter and receiver having a Q factor of at least 10,000.

8. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus, said providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus comprises;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via an electromagnetic radiation coupling, said electromagnetic radiation coupling being an optical coupling; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said at least one energy storage apparatus selected from at least one of;

an ultracapacitor, a mechanical energy storage apparatus, a pressure energy storage apparatus, a chemical energy storage apparatus and a fuel cell.

9. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus, said providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus comprises;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus via an electromagnetic radiation coupling, said electromagnetic radiation coupling being an infrared coupling; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said at least one energy storage apparatus selected from at least one of;

an ultracapacitor, a mechanical energy storage apparatus, a pressure energy storage apparatus, a chemical energy storage apparatus and a fuel cell.

10. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus, said providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus comprises;

providing the electric current energy to an at least partially intraluminal energy storage apparatus; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said at least one energy storage apparatus selected from at least one of;

an ultracapacitor, a mechanical energy storage apparatus, a pressure energy storage apparatus, a chemical energy storage apparatus and a fuel cell.

11. A method comprising:

receiving an intraluminal pressure change with an intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure that includes an intraluminal piezoelectric material and that generates an electric current energy under deformation, said intraluminal pressure change associated with an intraluminal fluid, said intraluminal, deformable pressure change receiving structure in physical contact with said intraluminal fluid;

providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus, said providing the electric current energy to at least one energy storage apparatus comprises;

providing the electric current energy to an at least partially extraluminal energy storage apparatus; and

storing the electric current energy in said at least one energy storage apparatus, said at least one energy storage apparatus selected from at least one of;

an ultracapacitor, a mechanical energy storage apparatus, a pressure energy storage apparatus, a chemical energy storage apparatus and a fuel cell.