Multi-element coupler for generation of electromagnetic energy

• US 9,610,457 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Poon, Ada Shuk Yan, Yeh, Alexander Jueshyan, Tanabe, Yuji, Ho, John, Kim, Sanghoek
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/196,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20160303385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1207 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/004 With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 : Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 : Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 : Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 : in combination with non-electric therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 : controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 : Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 : Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 : Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 : Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 : Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• 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 50/20 : using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 : characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 : Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Implantable devices and/or sensors can be wirelessly powered by controlling and propagating electromagnetic waves in a patient'"'"'s tissue. Such implantable devices/sensors can be implanted at target locations in a patient, to stimulate areas such as the heart, brain, spinal cord, or muscle tissue, and/or to sense biological, physiological, chemical attributes of the blood, tissue, and other patient parameters. The propagating electromagnetic waves can be generated with sub-wavelength structures configured to manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate the propagating waves inside the tissue. Methods of use are also described.

Claims

1. A wireless power system, comprising:

an external module having one or more sub-wavelength structures configured to transmit a wireless power signal by manipulating evanescent fields outside of a patient'"'"'s body to thereby control electromagnetic waves propagating inside the patient'"'"'s body; and

an implantable module configured to receive the wireless power signal from the external module, the implantable module including a stimulator configured to apply stimulation to a target location inside the patient'"'"'s body;

wherein the external module includes;

at least one voltage source configured to provide respective excitation signals to the one or more sub-wavelength structures; and

a controller configured to adjust an amplitude and/or phase of at least one of the excitation signals to focus the transmitted wireless power signal toward the implantable module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the external module is configured to apply respective excitation signals to the one or more sub-wavelength structures to generate a magnetic field that is substantially parallel to a surface of the patient'"'"'s body and is substantially perpendicular with a direction of propagation of the transmitted wireless power signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulator is an electrical stimulator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulator is an optical stimulator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulator is a chemical stimulator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulator is a mechanical stimulator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sub-wavelength structures include one or more of a patch structure, a slot structure, a cross slot structure, an aperture coupled circular slot structure, and a half slot structure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sub-wavelength structures include multiple circular slot structures.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to update the amplitude and/or phase of at least one of the excitation signals to update the focus of the transmitted wireless power signal based on information about a magnitude of wireless energy received at the implanted module from the external module.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable module is configured to be implanted on, in, or near a heart and is configured to deliver a leadless pacing electrostimulation therapy to the heart.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable module is configured to be implanted on, in, or near a brain and is configured to deliver a deep brain electrostimulation therapy to the brain.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the implantable module is configured to be implanted on, in, or near a spinal cord and is configured to deliver an electrostimulation therapy to the spinal cord.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable module is configured to be implanted on, in, or near a muscular tissue of the tongue and is configured to deliver an electrostimulation therapy to the tongue to treat apnea.

14. A wireless power system, comprising:

an external module having one or more sub-wavelength structures configured to transmit a wireless power signal by manipulating evanescent fields outside of a patient'"'"'s body to thereby control electromagnetic waves propagating inside the patient'"'"'s body; and

an implantable module configured to receive the wireless power signal from the external module, the implantable module including a sensor configured to sense a tissue parameter of the patient'"'"'s body;

wherein the external module includes;

at least one voltage source configured to provide respective excitation signals to the one or more sub-wavelength structures; and

a controller configured to adjust an amplitude and/or phase of at least one of the excitation signals to focus the transmitted wireless power signal toward the implantable module.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes a thermal sensor that is configured to sense a tissue temperature in response to the received wireless power signal from the external module, and wherein the thermal sensor is configured to report the sensed tissue temperature to the external module.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes one or more of a chemical sensor, a pressure sensor, an oxygen sensor, a PH sensor, a flow sensor, an electrical sensor, a strain sensor, a magnetic sensor, and an imaging sensor, and wherein the sensor is configured to report sensed information to the external module in response to the received wireless power signal from the external module.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the external module is configured to apply respective excitation signals to the one or more sub-wavelength structures to generate a magnetic field that is substantially parallel to a surface of the patient'"'"'s body and is substantially perpendicular with a direction of propagation of the transmitted wireless power signal.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the implantable module further includes a stimulator configured to apply stimulation to a target location inside the patient'"'"'s body.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more sub-wavelength structures include one or more of a patch structure, a slot structure, a cross slot structure, an aperture coupled circular slot structure, and a half slot structure.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more sub-wavelength structures include multiple circular slot structures.

21. The system of 14, wherein the controller is configured to update the amplitude and/or phase of at least one of the excitation signals to update the focus of the transmitted wireless power signal based on information about a magnitude of wireless energy received at the implanted module from the external module.

22. A wireless power system, comprising:

an external module configured to apply respective excitation signals to multiple sub-wavelength structures to generate and transmit a wireless power signal by manipulating evanescent fields outside of a patient'"'"'s body and thereby control electromagnetic waves propagating inside the patient'"'"'s body; and

multiple implantable modules configured to receive a portion of the wireless power signal from the external module, each of the implantable modules including one of a stimulator configured to apply stimulation to a target location inside the patient'"'"'s body and a sensor configured to sense a parameter of the patient'"'"'s body, wherein each of the multiple implantable modules is individually addressable by the external module;

wherein the external module includes;

a voltage source configured to provide respective excitation signals to the multiple sub-wavelength structures; and

a controller configured to adjust an amplitude and/or phase of at least one of the excitation signals to focus the transmitted wireless power signal toward one of the multiple implantable modules.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to update the amplitude and/or phase of at least one of the excitation signals to update the focus of the transmitted wireless power signal based on information about a magnitude of wireless energy received from the external module at two or more of the implanted modules.