Biothermal power source for implantable devices
US7340304B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 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.