# US 11,077,313 B2 · Electricity energy harvesting with liquid crystal-magnetic particle composite particles

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- Number: US 11,077,313 B2
- Document ID: US11077313B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/028,984
- Filed: 2018-07-06
- Published: 2019-01-10
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-07
- Assignees: Weinberg Medical Physics LLC
- Applicants: Weinberg Medical Physics, Inc.
- Inventors: Irving N. Weinberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077313B2

## CPC

- A61N 1/40: Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling (microwave apparatus A61N5/00); {Applying radio-frequency signals}
- H02N 1/08: with conductive charge carrier, i.e. capacitor machines
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method and apparatus generate electrical currents and/or voltage in tissue using devices composed of liquid crystals and magnetic particles. An instrument applies one or more magnetic fields to the devices to produce electrical energy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
at least one device being no more than 100 microns in any single dimension, containing at least one magnetic particle in a liquid crystal solution, and configured to be positioned in living tissue; and
an instrument, configured to be positioned internal or external to a body containing the living tissue, for applying a magnetic field to the at least one device to produce an electrical field for application to the living tissue.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one device is untethered within the living tissue.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a biocompatible material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a material to enhance transport to or through the living tissue.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a material to enhance transport into the brain.

### Claim 6

A method for changing an electrical state of at least one device present in living tissue, the method comprising:
positioning the at least one device within the living tissue, wherein the at least one device is no more than 100 microns in any single dimension and contains at least one magnetic particle in a liquid crystal solution; and
applying one or more magnetic fields to the at least one device to produce electrical energy.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one device is untethered within the living tissue.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a biocompatible material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a material to enhance transport to or through the living tissue.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a material to enhance transport into the brain.

### Claim 11

A method for altering and monitoring an electrical state of at least one device present in living tissue, the method comprising:
positioning the at least one device within the living tissue, wherein the at least one device is no more than 100 microns in any single dimension and contains at least one magnetic particle in a liquid crystal solution;
applying one or more magnetic fields to the at least one device to produce electrical energy; and
remotely sensing a status of the at least one device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the status is a magnetic status of the at least one device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one device is untethered within the living tissue.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a biocompatible material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a material to enhance transport to or through the living tissue.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a material to enhance transport into the brain.