Systems and methods for elastic wireless power transmission devices

• US 10,770,923 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2018
• Issued: 09/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hansen, John Freddy
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L
• Application Number:
  US16/222,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20190207425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A wireless power transmission device wearable by a subject is provided. The wireless power transmission device includes a power conditioner including a first end and an opposite second end, and a band. The band includes a first end fixedly coupled to the power conditioner first end, a second end fixedly coupled to the power conditioner second end, a body extending between the band first end and the band second end, the body including at least one elastic segment, and a plurality of conductive wires extending along the body to form a plurality of conductive loops, at least one of the plurality of conductive wires electrically coupled to the power conditioner.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission device wearable by a subject, the wireless power transmission device comprising:

a power conditioner comprising a first end and an opposite second end; and

a band comprising;

a first end fixedly coupled to the power conditioner first end;

a second end fixedly coupled to the power conditioner second end;

a body extending between the band first end and the band second end, the body comprising at least one elastic segment; and

a plurality of conductive wires extending along the body to form a plurality of conductive loops, at least one of the plurality of conductive wires electrically coupled to the power conditioner.

2. A wireless power transmission device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic segment is stretchable between a relaxed state and an expanded state, and wherein, within the at least one elastic segment, each conductive wire is arranged in a modulating pattern when the at least one elastic segment is in the relaxed state.

3. A wireless power transmission device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the modulating pattern is a zigzag pattern.

4. A wireless power transmission device in accordance with claim 2, wherein, when the at least one elastic segment is in the expanded state, each of the conductive wires extends generally linearly through the at least one elastic segment.

5. A wireless power transmission device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the body further comprises at least one inelastic segment.

6. A wireless power transmission device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the at least one inelastic segment comprises at least one of stiff plates and non-conductive non-magnetic wires embedded in the body.

7. A wireless power transmission device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the body comprises a plurality of elastic segments.

8. A wireless power transfer system comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to be implanted within a subject; and

a wireless power transmission device wearable by the subject, the wireless power transmission device configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmission device comprising;

a power conditioner comprising a first end and an opposite second end; and

a band comprising;

a first end fixedly coupled to the power conditioner first end;

a second end fixedly coupled to the power conditioner second end;

a body extending between the band first end and the band second end, the body comprising at least one elastic segment; and

a plurality of conductive wires extending along the body to form a plurality of conductive loops, at least one of the plurality of conductive wires electrically coupled to the power conditioner.

9. A wireless power transfer system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one elastic segment is stretchable between a relaxed state and an expanded state, and wherein, within the at least one elastic segment, each conductive wire is arranged in a modulating pattern when the at least one elastic segment is in the relaxed state.

10. A wireless power transfer system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the modulating pattern is a zigzag pattern.

11. A wireless power transfer system in accordance with claim 9, wherein, when the at least one elastic segment is in the expanded state, each of the conductive wires extends generally linearly through the at least one elastic segment.

12. A wireless power transfer system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the body further comprises at least one inelastic segment.

13. A wireless power transfer system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one inelastic segment comprises at least one of stiff plates and non-conductive non-magnetic wires embedded in the body.

14. A wireless power transfer system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the body comprises a plurality of elastic segments.

15. A wireless power transfer system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a computing device communicatively coupled to the wireless power transmission device, the computing device comprising a user interface configured to display information that assists the subject in positioning the wireless power transmission device to increase power transmitted to the wireless power receiver.

16. A method of operating a wireless power transfer system, the method comprising:

implanting a wireless power receiver in a subject;

positioning a wireless power transmission device on the subject, the wireless power transmission device including a power conditioner including a first end and an opposite second end, and a band including a first end fixedly coupled to the power conditioner first end, a second end fixedly coupled to the power conditioner second end, a body extending between the band first end and the band second end, the body including at least one elastic segment, and a plurality of conductive wires extending along the body to form a plurality of conductive loops, at least one of the plurality of conductive wires electrically coupled to the power conditioner; and

supplying current to the at least one of the plurality of conductive wires using the power conditioner to wirelessly transfer power from the wireless power transmission device to the wireless power receiver.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein positioning a wireless power transmission device comprises positioning a wireless power transmission device in which the at least one elastic segment is stretchable between a relaxed state and an expanded state, and wherein, within the at least one elastic segment, each conductive wire is arranged in a modulating pattern when the at least one elastic segment is in the relaxed state.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the modulating pattern is a zigzag pattern.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein, when the at least one elastic segment is in the expanded state, each of the conductive wires extends generally linearly through the at least one elastic segment.

20. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein positioning a wireless power transmission device comprises positioning a wireless power transmission device in which the body further comprises at least one inelastic segment.