Systems configured to transmit optical power signals transdermally out of a living subject, and devices and methods

• US 8,340,777 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Rivet, Dennis J., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US12/283,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20100067920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60, 607/61
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

In an embodiment, a system includes an internal optical power transmitter configured to be disposed within a living subject. The internal optical power transmitter includes a power source configured to provide electrical energy and an electrical-optical converter operably coupled to the power source. The electrical-optical converter may be configured to convert at least a portion of the electrical energy into one or more optical power signals transdermally transmittable out of the living subject. The system further includes an external optical-electrical converter configured to convert the one or more optical power signals into one or more electrical power signals and at least one external device configured to be operably coupled to the external optical-electrical converter and powered by the one or more electrical power signals. Embodiments of methods, biocompatible electrical-optical converters, and internal optical power transmitters are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating electrical energy, with an electrical generator disposed within a living subject, by converting internal body energy of the living subject to the electrical energy;

converting the electrical energy, generated by the electrical generator, within the living subject into one or more optical power signals;

transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μ

W;

converting the one or more optical power signals to one or more electrical power signals for electrically powering at least one device external to the living subject;

powering the at least one device located externally to the living subject using the one or more electrical power signals; and

utilizing the powering to control an operation of the at least one device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μ

W includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals with the power at about 10 μ

W to about 10 W.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μ

W includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals with the power at about 10 μ

W to about 1 mW.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μ

W includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals with the power at about 1 mW to about 100 mW.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μ

W includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals with the power at about 100 mW to about 1 W.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating electrical energy, with an electrical generator disposed within a living subject, by converting internal body energy of the living subject to electrical energy includes converting at least one of muscular energy, fluid energy, acceleration energy, or thermal energy of the living subject into the electrical energy.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the electrical energy from an energy storage device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μ

W includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals to a target located externally to the living subject.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein powering the at least one device located externally to the living subject using the one or more electrical power signals includes powering a personal electronic device located externally to the living subject.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the one or more optical power signals responsive to receiving instructions transmitted transdermally into the living subject from the at least one device located externally to the living subject.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical power signals are focused prior to being transmitted transdermally out of the living subject.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical power signals are focused to at least partially account for optical spreading that occurs as the one or more optical power signals pass through tissue of the living subject.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical power signals are focused to at least partially confine the one or more optical power signals to a receiving aperture.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical power signals are steered prior to being transmitted transdermally out of the living subject.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical power signals are steered prior to being transmitted transdermally out of the living subject to at least partially direct the one or more optical power signals to a target located externally to the living subject.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively providing the electrical energy from one of first or second power sources.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the electrical energy prior to the converting.