Patent · US Expired

Biothermal power source for implantable devices

US7127293B2 · kind B2 · utility

186Cited by
48References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 28, 2005
Grant dateOct 24, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 21, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/10
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An implantable, rechargeable assembly comprised of an implantable device disposed within a living organism, an electrical storage device connected to the implantable device, and a thermoelectric charging assembly operatively connected to the electrical storage device. The thermoelectric charging assembly has devices for transferring thermal energy between the living organism and a thermoelectric module, for generating an electrical current from the thermal energy, for charging the electrical storage device with the electrical current, for determining the extent to which the electrical storage device is being charged with the electrical current, and for generating a signal whenever the extent to which the electrical storage device is being charged with the electrical current falls below a specified value.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.