Multiband wireless power system

• US 9,991,734 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rudser, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Memula, Suresh
• Application Number:
  US15/596,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20170250566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/508 Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/875 specially adapted for optimising alignment of external and implantable coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/876 Implantable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a module for relaying power wirelessly to a device implanted in a user. The module may include a structure adapted to be worn by the user, a receiver configured to receive a first wireless power transmission at a first frequency, a transmitter configured to transmit a second wireless power transmission at a second frequency different from the first frequency, and a frequency changer configured to convert energy generated by the first wireless power transmission into energy for generating the second wireless power transmission. Each of the receiver, transmitter and frequency changer may be disposed on or in the structure.

Claims

1. A module for relaying power wirelessly to an implanted device, comprising:

a structure configured to be worn by a user;

a receiver configured to receive a first wireless power transmission at a first frequency;

a transmitter configured to transmit a second wireless power transmission at a second frequency different from the first frequency;

a frequency changer electrically coupled to each of the transmitter and the receiver, the frequency changer configured to convert energy generated by the first wireless power transmission into energy for generating the second wireless power transmission; and

at least one from the group consisting of the receiver, transmitter and frequency changer are disposed at least one from the group consisting of on the structure and in the structure.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein each of the first frequency and second frequency belong to different frequency bands.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is selected for wireless power transmission at a first distance and the second frequency is selected for wireless power transmission at a second distance shorter than the first distance.

4. The module of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is selected for wireless power transmission through a first medium and the second frequency is selected for wireless power transmission through a second medium different than the first medium.

5. The module of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit configured to determine a wireless power transmission efficiency of the receiver and to dynamically adjust the first frequency based on said determination.

6. The module of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine wireless power transmission efficiency based on a measured peak signal at the receiver.

7. The module of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is more than twice as great as the second frequency.

8. The module of claim 1, further comprising a battery electrically coupled to the receiver and a control circuit for determining whether to store energy generated by the first wireless power transmission in the battery, to relay the energy generated by the first wireless power transmission to the transmitter, or both.

9. The module of claim 1, wherein the structure includes a housing, and wherein the receiver and transmitter are disposed within the housing.

10. The module of claim 1, wherein when the module is worn by the user, the receiver is disposed at an end of the housing facing away from the user and the transmitter is disposed at an end of the housing facing towards the user.

11. An apparatus for relaying power wirelessly, comprising:

a receiver circuit configured to receive a wireless power at a resonant frequency of the receiver circuit;

a transmitter circuit configured to transmit wireless power at a selected resonant frequency; and

a frequency changer electrically coupled to an output of the receiver circuit and to an input of the transmitter circuit, the frequency changer being configured to convert the frequency of the wireless power received at the receiver circuit to the selected resonant frequency.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including a remote transmitter circuit, the remote transmitter circuit configure to generate and transmit wireless power at the resonant frequency of the receiver circuit.

13. A transcutaneous energy transfer system, comprising:

an implanted wireless power receiver electrically couplable to an implanted medical device;

a remote power source generating power to operate the implanted medical device; and

a wireless power relay apparatus configured to relay power from the remote power source to the implanted wireless power receiver, the apparatus comprising;

a receiver configured to receive an incoming wireless power transmission at a first frequency;

a transmitter configured to transmit an outgoing wireless power transmission at a second frequency; and

a frequency changer electrically in communication with the transmitter and to the receiver, the frequency changer being configured to convert energy generated by the incoming wireless power transmission into energy for generating the outgoing wireless transmission.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless power relay apparatus includes a plurality of apparatuses electromagnetically coupled to one another, wherein the wireless power transmitted by an upstream apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses is the wireless power received at a downstream one of the plurality of apparatuses, and wherein the implanted wireless power receiver is configured to receive the wireless power generated by a farthest downstream wireless power relay apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the farthest downstream wireless power relay apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses further comprises an external battery electrically coupled to the receiver, the external battery being used to:

temporarily store charge when the farthest downstream wireless power relay apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses is electromagnetically coupled to a respective upstream apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses; and

generate power for driving the transmitter at the second frequency using the stored charge when the farthest downstream wireless power relay apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses is not electromagnetically coupled to a respective upstream apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising an implanted battery electrically coupled to the implanted wireless power receiver and to the implanted medical device, the implanted battery used to:

temporarily store charge when the farthest downstream wireless power relay apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses is operatively coupled to the implanted wireless power receiver; and

generate power for operating the implanted medical device when at least one from the group consisting of the farthest downstream wireless power relay apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses is not operatively coupled to the implanted wireless power receiver and when the farthest downstream wireless power relay apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses does not on its own generate power for operating the implanted medical device.