# US 9,039,753 B2 · System and method to electrically charge implantable devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,753 B2 - Document ID: US9039753B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/019,324 - Filed: 2013-09-05 - Published: 2014-03-06 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-05 - Applicants: Jeff Thramann - Inventors: Jeff Thramann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039753B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/378: Electrical supply - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07) - A61L 31/14: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials} - A61N 1/205: {for promoting a biological process} - A61F 2002/009: {for hindering or preventing attachment of biological tissue} - A61F 2250/0001: Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants - A61F 2250/0043: differing in electric properties, e.g. in electrical conductivity, in galvanic properties - 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) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract An implantable device having a power source is provided. The power source uses reverse electrowetting technology to generate a charge to power the implantable device. The power source includes a flexible, non-conductive substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side with a channel between the first and second sides. Electrodes are arranged about the channel in a predefined pattern. A liquid is contained in the channel. The liquid includes a dielectric liquid and a conductive liquid that do not mix. The electric change is generated by moving the liquid back and forth across the electrodes. The force to pump or move the liquid is provided by organic means, such as, for example, the change in blood pressure between systolic and diastolic, the expansion and contraction of an organ, or the movement of a muscle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrically charged stent configured for implantation to a cardiovascular system, the stent comprising: a flexible material formed into an elongate tube, the flexible material including an inner surface and an outer surface; at least one channel residing in the flexible material between the inner and outer surfaces; at least two electrodes arranged on the at least one channel; a fluid contained in the at least one channel, the fluid comprising: a dielectric fluid; and a conductive fluid, wherein the dielectric fluid and conductive fluid are alternatingly arranged in the at least one channel, wherein the flexible material is configured to expand and contract and provide a motive force to oscillate the fluid in the at least one channel such that the dielectric fluid and conductive fluid move past the at least two electrodes and generate an electric charge; wherein the plurality of electrodes are coupled to the inner surface and the outer surface to provide an electrical charge to the stent; and wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to alternatingly apply a negative charge and a positive charge to the inner surface of the electrically charged stent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrically charged stent of claim 1 wherein the flexible material is configured to expand and contract based on a change of blood pressure between systolic and diastolic blood pressures. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrically charged stent of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to negatively charge the inner surface of the electrically charged stent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrically charged stent of claim 1 wherein the dielectric fluid and the conductive fluid are immiscible. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrically charged stent of claim 1 wherein the dielectric fluid comprises a first plurality of regions in the at least one channel and wherein the conductive fluid comprises a second plurality of regions in the at least one channel and wherein the first plurality of regions are spaced apart by the second plurality of regions over a length of the at least one channel. ### Claim 6 An apparatus comprising: an implantable device comprising a charge generating stent configured for implantation to a body; a power source configured for implantation into the body and electrically coupled to the implantable device, the power source comprising: a flexible, non-conductive substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; at least one channel contained in the flexible, non-conductive substrate between the first and second sides; a plurality of electrode pairs arranged on opposite sides of the at least one channel and arranged in a predetermined pattern; a liquid in the at least one channel, wherein the liquid comprises a plurality of dielectric regions and a plurality of conductive regions wherein each of the plurality of dielectric regions is formed by a dielectric liquid and each of the plurality of conductive regions is formed by a conductive liquid wherein the dielectric and the conductive liquids are immiscible, wherein force applied to the flexible, non-conductive substrate causes the liquid in the at least one channel to move such that the plurality of dielectric regions and the plurality of conductive regions move across at least one of the plurality of electrode pairs to generate an electrical charge to power at least in part the implantable device, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to alternatingly apply a negative charge and a positive charge to an inner surface of the charge generating stent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the power source is integrated into the implantable device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the power source is configured for implantation on an organ that expands and contracts wherein the expansion and contraction is the force applied to the flexible, non-conductive substrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the power source is configured for implantation on a muscle that expands and contracts wherein the expansion and contraction is the force applied to the flexible, non-conductive substrate. ### Claim 10 An apparatus comprising: a charge generating stent configured for implantation to a body; and means for generating an electrical charge to power the implantable device electrically coupled to the implantable device, wherein the means or generating comprises a reverse electrowetting device having at least two electrodes coupled across the charge generating stent wherein the at least two electrodes are configured to alternatingly apply a negative charge and a positive charge to an inner surface of the charge generating stent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrically charged stent is a bare metal stent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrically charged stent is a stent graft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the charge generating stent is a bare metal stent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the charge generating stent is a stent graft.