Implanted energy harvester with hydraulically driven linear generator for powering a further implanted device

摘要

An implanted energy harvester for a patient uses motion within the patient to drive an electric generator via a hydraulic system. Preferably the system comprises a pressure sensitive element 4 connected to a generator 6 via conduit 10 containing a working fluid 12. The element 4 may have a pressure bladder 8 placed against the wall of the patient's heart or a blood vessel such as an artery 44 so that blood pressure fluctuations or heart movement transfers to the working fluid. The pressurised fluid 12 entering the generator cavity 18 moves the generator member 20 within the fixed generator parts 22 to generate power which is fed to regulation circuits 34 and battery 36. The pressure element may alternatively be part of a pacing electrode lead (50) implanted in the patients heart (see figs 2a,b) where a pressure sensitive bladder (8) at the lead tip transmits pressure pulse within conduit (10) of the lead.