Body heat powered implantable medical device

• US 6,470,212 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Weijand, Koen J., Houben, Richard P. M., Combs, Patrick J., Greeninger, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/529,292
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1, 607/33, 607/35, 607/61
• US Class Current: 607/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement

Abstract

A system for and method of providing power to an implanted medical device within a patient is disclosed. The system (250) includes a first (262) and a second heat conduit (264) positioned within the patient. A thermoelectric device (252) is connected to the first and second heat conduits for thermally converting the temperature difference between the conduits to a voltage. A DC-DC converter (254) is connected to the thermoelectric element and increases the voltage. A storage element (256) is connected to the DC-DC converter-for receiving the increased voltage. The storage element is also connected to the implanted medical device (258), thereby providing power to the implanted medical device.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a sealed enclosure;

electrical circuitry housed within the sealed enclosure and controlling the delivery of patient therapy;

an implantable first heat conduit external to the sealed enclosure for sensing a first temperature at a first location within the patient;

an implantable second heat conduit external to the sealed enclosure for sensing a second temperature at a second location within the patient;

a thermoelectric device connectable to the first and second implantable heat conduits through a connector module mounted to the sealed enclosure, said thermoelectric device generating a voltage by thermally converting a temperature difference between the first and second implantable heat conduits to an electrical current;

a DC-DC converter connected to the thermoelectric device, said converter increasing the amplitude of the voltage generated by the thermoelectric device to produce an increased amplitude output voltage; and

an electrical storage element within the sealed enclosure, the storage element being connected to the .DC-DC converter to receive the increased amplitude output voltage, the storage element also being connected to the electrical circuitry to provide operating power.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first heat conduit is implantable within a passageway of a lung of the patient.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first heat conduit is implantable within a bronchia of the patient.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first heat conduit is implantable within a liver of the patient.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first heat conduit is implantable within a blood passageway within the patient.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric device further comprises a plurality of thermocouples positioned in a series configuration.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric device converts a temperature difference between the first and second conduits that is in the range of approximately 0.1°

C.-5.0°

C.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric device generates a voltage in the range of approximately 0.1-1000 millivolts.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC converter produces a voltage in the range of approximately 1.0-10 volts.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage element comprises a battery.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage element comprises a capacitor.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second implantable heat conduits comprise a semiconducting material.

33. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second implantable heat conduits comprise thermocouple leads.

12. An implantable medical device comprising:

a sealed enclosure;

electrical circuitry within the sealed enclosure controlling the delivery of patient therapy;

first implantable means external to the sealed enclosure for sensing a first temperature;

second implantable means external to the sealed enclosure for sensing a second temperature;

means coupled to the first and second implantable temperature sensing means for converting a temperature differential between the first sensed temperature and the second sensed temperature to a voltage;

means for increasing the amplitude of the converted voltage to an increased amplitude voltage;

means for storing the increased amplitude voltage; and

means for providing a portion of the increased amplitude voltage to the electrical circuitry.

13. A method of providing power to an electrical circuit of an implantable medical device controlling the delivery of patient therapy, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing a first temperature at a first location within the patient external of the device;

sensing a second temperature at a second location within the patient external of the device;

converting a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures to a voltage; and

providing the voltage to power the electrical circuit of the implantable medical device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sensing a first temperature further comprises:

sensing a first temperature within a passageway of a lung of the patient.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sensing a first temperature further comprises:

sensing a first temperature within a bronchia of the patient.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sensing a first temperature further comprises:

sensing a first temperature within a liver of the patient.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sensing a first temperature further comprises:

sensing a first temperature within a blood passageway of the patient.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sensing a second temperature further comprises:

sensing a temperature at a location within the patient that is proximate to an outer casing of the implantable medical device.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of converting a temperature difference further comprises:

converting a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures in the range of 0.1°

C.-5.0°

C. to a voltage.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of converting a temperature difference further comprises:

converting a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures to a voltage in the range of approximately 0.1-1000 millivolts.

21. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:

increasing the voltage to an increased voltage in the range of 1.0-10 volts.

22. A method of providing power to an electrical circuit of an implantable medical device controlling the delivery of patient therapy, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing a first temperature at a first location within the patient external of the device;

sensing a second temperature at a second location within the patient external of the device;

converting a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures to a voltage;

increasing the voltage to an increased amplitude voltage;

storing the increased amplitude voltage; and

providing a portion of the increased voltage amplitude to the electrical circuit of the implantable device.

23. The method claim 22, wherein the step of sensing a first temperature further comprises:

sensing a first temperature within a passageway of a lung of the patient.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of sensing a first temperature further comprises:

sensing a first temperature within a bronchia of the patient.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of sensing a first temperature further comprises:

sensing a first temperature within a liver of the patient.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of sensing a first temperature further comprises:

sensing a first temperature within a blood passageway of the patient.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of converting a temperature difference further comprises:

converting a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures to a voltage in the range of approximately 0.1-1000 millivolts.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of converting a temperature difference further comprises:

converting a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures in the range of approximately 0.1°

C.-5.0°

C. to a voltage.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of increasing the voltage further comprises:

increasing the voltage to an increased voltage in the range of 1.0-10.0 volts.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of storing the increased voltage further comprises:

storing the increased voltage within a battery.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of storing the increased voltage further comprises:

storing the increased voltage within a capacitor.