EXTRACORPOREAL IMPLANT CONTROLLERS
First Claim
1. Apparatus for treating a condition of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a first controller, having a mass of 10-500 g and a volume of 25-250 cm̂
3, and comprising;
at least one first-controller antenna configured to transmit a first wireless power signal having a first signal power;
a battery configured to store battery power;
a first-controller control unit configured to use the battery power to drive the first-controller antenna to transmit the first wireless power signal;
a user input device, operable by the subject to power the first-controller control unit using the battery; and
a second controller, comprising;
at least one second-controller antenna, configured to transmit a second wireless power signal having a second signal power;
a mains electricity connector; and
a second-controller control unit, configured to use power from the mains electricity connector to drive the second-controller antenna to transmit the second wireless power signal; and
an implant, configured to be implanted in tissue of the subject, the implant comprising;
one or more tissue-contacting electrodes, configured to be placed in contact with the tissue;
at least one implant antenna configured to receive 1-10 percent of the first signal power of the first wireless power signal, and to receive 0.01-1 percent of the second signal power of the second wireless power signal; and
circuitry configured (i) to be powered by the received 1-10 percent of the first signal power, and to responsively drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current, and (ii) to be powered by the received 0.01-1 percent of the second signal power, and to responsively drive the one or more electrodes to apply the current.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, comprising (1) a first controller comprising at least one first-controller antenna configured to transmit a first wireless power signal having a first signal power; and a first-controller control unit configured to use battery power to drive the first-controller antenna; (2) a second controller, comprising at least one second-controller antenna, configured to transmit a second wireless power signal having a second signal power; and a second-controller control unit, configured to use mains electricity power to drive the second-controller antenna; and (3) an implant, comprising one or more electrodes; at least one implant antenna configured to receive 1-10 percent of the first signal power, and to receive 0.01-1 percent of the second signal power; and circuitry configured to drive the one or more electrodes responsively to the received 1-10 percent of the first signal power, or the received 0.01-1 percent of the second signal power.
16 Citations
28 Claims
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1. Apparatus for treating a condition of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
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a first controller, having a mass of 10-500 g and a volume of 25-250 cm̂
3, and comprising;at least one first-controller antenna configured to transmit a first wireless power signal having a first signal power; a battery configured to store battery power; a first-controller control unit configured to use the battery power to drive the first-controller antenna to transmit the first wireless power signal; a user input device, operable by the subject to power the first-controller control unit using the battery; and a second controller, comprising; at least one second-controller antenna, configured to transmit a second wireless power signal having a second signal power; a mains electricity connector; and a second-controller control unit, configured to use power from the mains electricity connector to drive the second-controller antenna to transmit the second wireless power signal; and an implant, configured to be implanted in tissue of the subject, the implant comprising; one or more tissue-contacting electrodes, configured to be placed in contact with the tissue; at least one implant antenna configured to receive 1-10 percent of the first signal power of the first wireless power signal, and to receive 0.01-1 percent of the second signal power of the second wireless power signal; and circuitry configured (i) to be powered by the received 1-10 percent of the first signal power, and to responsively drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current, and (ii) to be powered by the received 0.01-1 percent of the second signal power, and to responsively drive the one or more electrodes to apply the current. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24)
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2. (canceled)
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8-10. -10. (canceled)
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21-22. -22. (canceled)
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25. A method for use with a subject that benefits from application of an electric current to a tissue site, the method comprising:
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during a sleeping period in which the subject is sleeping, applying the current to the tissue site for a first proportion of the sleeping period; and during a wakeful period in which the subject is awake, the wakeful period extending from the sleeping period to an immediately-subsequent sleeping period, applying the current to the tissue site for a second proportion of the wakeful period that is greater than zero and less than one-third of the first proportion, wherein the wakeful period is a period during which the subject would benefit more from (a) applying the current to the tissue site for a third proportion of the wakeful period that is greater than two-thirds of the first proportion, than from (b) applying the current to the tissue site for the second proportion of the wakeful period.
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26. A method for use with a subject suffering from a condition that benefits from application of electric current to a tissue site, the method comprising:
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during a sleeping period in which the subject is sleeping, applying a first amount of energy to the tissue site by applying electric current to the tissue site; and during a wakeful period in which the subject is awake, applying a second amount of energy by applying electric current to the tissue site, the second amount of energy being greater than zero and less than one-third of the first amount of energy, wherein the wakeful period (i) is defined as an entire period between the sleeping period and an immediately subsequent sleeping period, and (ii) is a period during which the condition would benefit more from applying a third amount of energy by applying electric current to the tissue site that is greater than two-thirds of the first amount of energy, than from applying the second amount of energy current to the tissue site by applying electric current.
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27. A method for use with an implant implanted in tissue of a subject, the method comprising:
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during a sleeping period in which the subject is sleeping, wirelessly powering the implant to apply an electric current to the tissue by wirelessly transmitting power using a mains-powered controller while the mains-powered controller is connected to mains electricity; and during a wakeful period in which the subject is awake, wirelessly powering the implant to apply an electric current to the tissue by wirelessly transmitting power using a battery-powered controller while the battery-powered controller is powered by a battery and is not connected to mains electricity.
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28-96. -96. (canceled)
Specification