Implantable wireless accoustic stimulators with high energy conversion efficiencies
AssigneeEBR Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid F. Moore, Paul Mohr, N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken
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Abstract
Receiver-stimulator with folded or rolled up assembly of piezoelectric components, causing the receiver-stimulator to operate with a high degree of isotropy are disclosed. The receiver-stimulator comprises piezoelectric components, rectifier circuitry, and at least two stimulation electrodes. Isotropy allows the receiver-stimulator to be implanted with less concern regarding the orientation relative the transmitted acoustic field from an acoustic energy source.
Claims10
An implantable receiver-stimulator for harvesting acoustic power from an acoustic field and generating electrical power, comprising:
- a hermetically sealed enclosure with an inner and outer surface;
- a first plurality of acoustic piezoelectric components which converts the acoustic field to electrical power, each piezoelectric component defined by a thickness and a base with a width and configured with the base mounted to the inner surface;
- a plurality of individual rectifiers, where each rectifier is electrically connected to a corresponding piezoelectric component of the first plurality of piezoelectric components such that the electrical power from the piezoelectric components is converted by the rectifiers arranged in a circuit assembly to a biologically stimulating electrical output;
- and at least two stimulation electrodes which receive the stimulating electrical output and deliver said output to tissue at sufficient electrical energy levels to stimulate the tissue;
- wherein the acoustic piezoelectric components are distributed about the inner surface along three axes such that acoustic energy is harvested efficiently from any direction of the propagating acoustic energy field.
An implantable receiver-stimulator for harvesting acoustic power from an acoustic field and generating electrical power, comprising:
- a hermetically sealed enclosure with an inner and outer surface;
- a first plurality of acoustic piezoelectric components which converts the acoustic field to electrical power, each piezoelectric component defined by a thickness and a base with a width and configured with the base mounted to the inner surface;
- a plurality of individual rectifiers, where each rectifier is electrically connected to a corresponding piezoelectric component of the first plurality of piezoelectric components such that the electrical power from the piezoelectric components is converted by the rectifiers arranged in a circuit assembly to a biologically stimulating electrical output;
- and at least two stimulation electrodes which receive the stimulating electrical output and deliver said output to tissue at sufficient electrical energy levels to stimulate the tissue;
- wherein the acoustic piezoelectric components are distributed about the inner surface longitudinally and perimetrically such that acoustic energy is harvested efficiently from any direction of the propagating acoustic energy field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.