# US 2020/0403447 A1 · Charging systems for devices related to dialysis treatments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0403447 A1 - Document ID: US20200403447A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/010,627 - Filed: 2020-09-02 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-13 - Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Donovan Halliburton; Alexander Joseph Brown; Kelly Yik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200403447A1 ## CPC - A61M 1/14: Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators (semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00){; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis} - A61M 1/28: Peritoneal dialysis {; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation} - H02J 7/865: {Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence)} - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - A61M 2205/04: implanted - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission - A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2205/8237: Charging means - A61M 2205/8293: Solar - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract In one aspect of the invention, a method of charging a medical device includes receiving radiofrequency signals from a remote machine remote from the medical device via a receiver of the medical device. The method includes converting the radiofrequency signals into electrical energy via a generator of the medical device. The method includes storing the electrical energy in an energy cell of the medical device. The method also includes powering a power consumption component of the medical device by transmitting the energy from the energy cell to the power consumption component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of charging a medical device comprising: receiving radiofrequency signals from a dialysis machine remote from the medical device via a receiver of the medical device, wherein the medical device comprises a detector; converting the radiofrequency signals into electrical energy via a generator of the detector; storing the electrical energy in an energy cell of the detector; powering an electric circuit of the detector by transmitting the energy from the energy cell to the electric circuit; detecting a parameter using the detector; and responsive to detecting the parameter, wirelessly transmitting a signal from the detector to the dialysis machine for controlling an operation of the dialysis machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of the dialysis machine comprises pumping blood. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein powering the electric circuit comprises applying power to an electrode of the detector to detect an electrical property related to a hematocrit level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising testing a property of blood with the medical device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving distinct energy types from distinct energy sources positioned remote from the detector via the receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: converting the distinct types of energy into electrical energy via the generator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein receiving distinct energy types includes receiving energy selected from the group consisting of: radiofrequency signals, thermal energy, light energy, and kinetic energy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein receiving distinct energy types includes receiving energy via a thermocouple. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein receiving distinct energy types includes receiving energy via a photosensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein receiving distinct energy types includes receiving energy via a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting a state of a wetness detector. ### Claim 12 A medical system, comprising: a receiver configured to wirelessly receive energy from at least one distinct energy source emitting a distinct type of energy; a generator coupled to the receiver, the generator configured to convert the distinct type of energy into electrical energy; an energy cell coupled to the generator, the energy cell configured to store the electrical energy; a power consumption component comprising an electric circuit comprising a detector communicably coupled to the energy cell to consume the stored electrical energy; and a wireless transmission system communicably coupled to the power consumption component and configured to transmit a signal to a dialysis machine from the detector for controlling an operation of the dialysis machine responsive to detecting a parameter using the detector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the detector comprises a wetness detector having at least two spaced apart electrodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The medical system of claim 12, wherein the detector comprises a hematocrit detector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the receiver is configured to wirelessly receive energy from at least two distinct energy sources emitting distinct types of energy. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medical system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the energy sources is the dialysis machine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The medical system according to claim 15, further comprising: a sensor coupled to the receiver, the sensor configured to sense a parameter related to the distinct types of energy; and a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller configured to tune one or more of the receiver and the generator to absorb or transform a selected type of energy. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The medical system according to claim 15, wherein the distinct types of energy are selected from the group consisting of: radiofrequency signals, thermal energy, light energy, and kinetic energy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the distinct type of energy includes radiofrequency signals, and wherein the receiver includes an antenna. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The medical system according to claim 19, wherein the generator is configured to convert the radiofrequency signals to direct current. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the distinct type of energy includes thermal energy, and wherein the receiver includes a thermocouple. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The medical system according to claim 21, wherein the generator includes a thermoelectric generator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the receiver is a non-inductive receiver. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the medical system houses the energy cell in a liquid impervious housing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the energy cell includes a capacitor. ### Claim 26 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the distinct type of energy includes kinetic energy, and wherein the receiver includes a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The medical system according to claim 26, wherein the generator includes a MEMS generator. ### Claim 28 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, wherein the distinct type of energy includes light energy, and wherein the receiver includes a photosensor. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The medical system according to claim 28, wherein the generator includes a photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 30 (depends on 12) The medical system according to claim 12, further comprising: a programmable clock configured to tune at least one of the receiver and the generator based on a time of day. ### Claim 31 (depends on 15) The medical system according to claim 15, further comprising: a controller coupled to the generator, the controller configured to evaluate an efficiency of energy generation from each of the at least two distinct energy sources and to tune the receiver to receive a selected type of energy and the generator to generate the selected type of energy source. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The medical system according to claim 31, wherein tuning comprises shutting down one or more components of the receiver. ### Claim 33 A dialysis system for wirelessly charging a portable medical device, the dialysis system comprising: a sensor configured to detect a presence of the portable medical device; a transmitter configured to transmit radiofrequency signals from the dialysis system to the portable medical device to power an electric circuit of the medical device comprising a detector; a receiver configured to receive a signal wirelessly transmitted from the portable medical device responsive to detection of a state of the medical device via the electric circuit; and a controller configured to control an operation of the dialysis system in response to detection of a parameter using the detector.