# US 11,309,744 B2 · Systems and methods for providing wireless power to deep implanted devices

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- Number: US 11,309,744 B2
- Document ID: US11309744B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/696,838
- Filed: 2017-09-06
- Published: 2018-03-15
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-11
- Assignees: Verily Life Sciences LLC
- Applicants: Verily Life Sciences LLC
- Inventors: Stephen O'Driscoll; Jiang Zhu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309744B2

## CPC

- H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves
- A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source}
- H02J 7/42: with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones
- H02J 50/12: of the resonant type
- H02J 50/23: characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
- A61B 5/0031: {Implanted circuitry}
- A61B 2560/0219: of externally powered implanted units
- A61N 1/37229: {Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna}
- H02J 50/402: {the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas}
- H02J 2105/46: Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- 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)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing wireless power to implanted devices. Consistent with some embodiments, a power system for providing wireless power to a device implanted in a body of an individual includes a first antenna loop that produces a first electromagnetic wave and at least one second antenna loop that produces a second electromagnetic wave. The first and second electromagnetic waves may interfere with one another to produce an interference pattern including interference maxima. Further, a location of at least one of the interference maxima may be at or substantially close to the device implanted in the body of the individual. A broad distribution pattern at the surface of the skin can reduce the specific absorption rate of the transmission, while focusing the transmission toward the implanted device improves the antenna system's transfer efficiency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power system for providing wireless power to a device implanted in a body of an individual, comprising:
a power source;
one or more antenna controllers;
a first antenna loop electrically coupled to a first antenna controller of the one or more antenna controllers, the first antennal loop comprising a first loading component, the first antenna controller configured to control a characteristic of the first loading component of the first antenna loop to produce a first electromagnetic near-field; and
at least one second antenna loop electrically coupled to a second antenna controller of the one or more antenna controllers, the second antenna controller configured to control the second antenna loop to produce a second electromagnetic near-field,
the first and second antenna controllers configured to control the first and second antenna loops simultaneously to generate the first and second electromagnetic near-fields that will interfere with one another to produce an interference pattern including interference maxima, at least one of the interference maxima having a location at a depth associated with the device implanted in the body of the individual, wherein the interference pattern is broadly distributed at the surface of the skin to minimize a peak specific absorption rate at the surface of the skin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna controller is configured to control a reactance of a reactive element associated with the first antenna loop.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The power system of claim 2, wherein the reactive element is one of a variable capacitor or a variable inductor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The power system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna controller is configured to control a loading capacitance or a loading inductance.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The power system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna controller is further configured to control a property of a signal for the first antenna loop in order to maintain a location of at least one of the interference maxima substantially at the depth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The power system of claim 5, wherein the property of the signal for the first antenna loop includes at least one of a frequency, phase, or magnitude of the signal for the first antenna loop.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The power system of claim 5, wherein the first antenna controller includes a tunable phase shifter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The power system of claim 1, wherein the first and second antenna controllers are configured to generate first and second electromagnetic near-fields, respectively, having a maximum power at a depth associated with skin of the body of the individual to be less than a power associated with at least one of the interference maxima.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The power system of claim 1, wherein a maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) caused by at least one of the first electromagnetic near-field or the second electromagnetic near-field is below or equal to 1.6 watts per kilogram.

### Claim 10

A method for providing wireless power to a device implanted in a body of an individual, comprising:
controlling, using a first antenna controller of one or more antenna controllers, a loading component of a first antenna loop applying power by a first antenna controller to produce a first electromagnetic near-field, the first antenna loop electrically coupled to the first antenna controller;
simultaneously with controlling the loading component of the first antenna loop, controlling a second antenna loop by a second antenna controller of the one or more antenna controllers to produce a second electromagnetic near-field, the first and second electromagnetic near-fields interfering with one another to produce an interference pattern including interference maxima, the second antenna loop electrically coupled to the second antenna controller;
wherein a location of at least one of the interference maxima is at a depth associated with the device implanted in the body of the individual; and
wherein the interference pattern is broadly distributed at the surface of the skin to minimize a peak specific absorption rate at the surface of the skin.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein controlling the loading component comprises controlling a reactance of a reactive element associated with the first antenna loop.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the reactive element is one of a variable capacitor or a variable inductor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein controlling the loading component of the first antenna loop includes controlling a loading capacitance or a loading inductance.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
controlling, using the first antenna controller, a property of a signal for the first antenna loop so as to maintain the location of at least one of the interference maxima at the device implanted in the body of the individual.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the property of the signal for the first antenna loop includes at least one of a frequency, phase, or magnitude of the signal for the first antenna loop.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second antenna controllers are configured to generate first and second electromagnetic near-fields, respectively, having a maximum power at a depth associated with skin of the body of the individual to be less than a power associated with at least one of the interference maxima.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein a maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) caused by at least one of the first electromagnetic near-field or the second electromagnetic near-field is below or equal to 1.6 watts per kilogram.

### Claim 18

A system for providing power to a device implanted in a body of an individual, comprising:
a first antenna loop, the first antennal loop comprising a first loading component;
a plurality of second antenna loops;
a power source configured to provide power to the first antenna loop and to the plurality of second antenna loops, the first antenna loop configured to produce a first electromagnetic near-field and the plurality of second antenna loops configured to produce a plurality of second electromagnetic near-fields; and
a first antenna controller coupled to the first antenna loop, the first antenna controller being configured to control a characteristic of the first loading component to produce the first electromagnetic near-field;
a plurality of second antenna controllers, each second antenna controller of the plurality of second antenna controllers coupled to different one of the plurality of second antennas, each second antenna controller of the plurality of the second antenna controllers being configured to control a property of a respective second antenna loop; and
wherein the first electromagnetic near-field and the plurality of second electromagnetic near-fields configured to cause a specific absorption rate (“SAR”) at a first depth corresponding to a skin surface below a threshold maximum SAR and to interfere with one another to produce interference maxima and the first antenna controller and the plurality of second antenna controllers configured to maintain a location of at least one of the interference maxima at or close to a second depth associated with the device implanted in the body of the individual.