Power Generation for Implantable Devices

• US 20160331981A1
• Filed: 07/27/2016
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: John, Michael Sasha
• Granted Patent: US 9,943,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

This application includes systems and techniques relating to wirelessly rechargeable medical apparatus, such as a wirelessly powered medical system including: a wireless power transmitter; and a medical apparatus including a wireless energy harvesting device configured to receive at least one type of wireless power from the wireless power transmitter and be mounted on an exterior surface of a human body, a medical device configured to be implanted in the human body, and one or more electrical conduits configured to couple the wireless energy harvesting device on the exterior surface of the human body with the medical device implanted in the human body, wherein the one or more electrical conduits provide harvested electric power from the wireless energy harvesting device to the medical device.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A wirelessly powered medical system comprising:

a wireless power transmitter; and

a medical apparatus comprising

a wireless energy harvesting device configured to receive at least one type of wireless power from the wireless power transmitter and be mounted on an exterior surface of a human body,

a medical device configured to be implanted in the human body, and

one or more electrical conduits configured to couple the wireless energy harvesting device on the exterior surface of the human body with the medical device implanted in the human body, wherein the one or more electrical conduits provide harvested electric power from the wireless energy harvesting device to the medical device.

3. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 2, wherein the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator configured to be intra-cranially situated, and the wireless energy harvesting device is configured to be extra-cranially situated on a skull of the human body.

4. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 3, wherein the wireless energy harvesting device is configured to be mounted on the skull of the human body at least 0.5 inches away from the implantable neurostimulator.

5. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 2, wherein the power transmitter is located within an ordinary mattress or seat cushion.

6. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 2, wherein the medical apparatus comprises:

a power management module configured to manage, monitor, and store power harvested by the wireless energy harvesting device;

a control module configured to communicate with the power management module; and

a communication module configured to provide communication between the medical device and at least one external device.

7. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 6, wherein the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to modify operation of wireless energy harvesting in relation to treatment provided by the medical device.

8. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 7, wherein the medical device comprises a sensing module, and the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to compensate for influences of wireless power harvesting operations on operation of the sensing module.

9. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 7, wherein the medical device comprises a stimulation module, and the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to compensate for influences of wireless power harvesting operations on treatment provided by the stimulation module.

10. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 7, wherein the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to compensate for influences of wireless power harvesting operations on operation of the communication module.

11. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 7, wherein the medical device comprises a sensing module, and the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to halt, delay, or attenuate sensing operations by the sensing module during a portion of wireless power harvesting operations.

12. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 11, wherein the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to halt, delay, or attenuate the wireless power harvesting operations during a portion of the sensing operations by the sensing module.

13. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 7, wherein the medical device comprises a stimulation module, and the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to halt, delay, or attenuate stimulation operations by the stimulation module during a portion of wireless power harvesting operations.

14. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 13, wherein the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to halt, delay, or attenuate the wireless power harvesting operations during a portion of the stimulation operations by the stimulation module.

15. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 7, wherein the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to halt, delay, or attenuate communication operations by the communication module during a portion of wireless power harvesting operations.

16. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 15, wherein the power management module and the control module are configured to communicate with each other to halt, delay, or attenuate the wireless power harvesting operations during a portion of the communication operations by the communication module.

17. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 2, wherein the wireless power transmitter includes at least one sensor, and the wireless power transmitter is configured to toggle a state of power transmission on and off based on detecting a presence of a user having the medical apparatus attached to the user in accordance with output of the at least one sensor.

18. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 17, wherein the wireless energy harvesting device is configured to receive different types of wirelessly transmitted power from different types of wireless power transmitters, and each of the different types of wireless power transmitters includes at least one sensor to control toggling on and off of power transmission.

19. The wirelessly powered medical system of claim 18, wherein the sensors in the different types of wireless power transmitters comprise a radio frequency (RF) sensor, a sonic sensor, a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, and a pressure sensor.

20. A wirelessly powered medical apparatus comprising:

a wireless energy harvesting device configured to receive at least one type of wireless power from a wireless power transmitter and be mounted on an exterior surface of a human body;

a medical device configured to be implanted in the human body; and

one or more electrical conduits configured to couple the wireless energy harvesting device on the exterior surface of the human body with the medical device implanted in the human body, wherein the one or more electrical conduits provide harvested electric power from the wireless energy harvesting device to the medical device.

21. The wirelessly powered medical apparatus of claim 20, wherein the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator configured to be intra-cranially situated, and the wireless energy harvesting device is configured to be extra-cranially situated on a skull of the human body.