Method and apparatus for providing a miniature, flexible voltage upconverter
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for providing a miniaturized, flexible high voltage up-converter. Aspects of the invention are particularly useful in providing an apparatus comprising a plurality of up-converting modules while also allowing the apparatus to maintain a desired degree of flexibility. However, certain aspects of the invention may be equally applicable in other scenarios as well.
1. An apparatus for up-converting an initial voltage, said apparatus comprising:
a first photodiode module receiving said initial voltage;
a first photon source optically coupling said first photodiode module to a light source wherein said first module up-converts said initial voltage to a first up-converted voltage;
a second photodiode module receiving said first up-converted voltage from said first photodiode module; and
a second photon source coupling said second photodiode module to said light source;
wherein said second photodiode module up-converts said first up-converted voltage to a second up-converted voltage.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first photodiode module comprises a plurality of laterally fabricated photodiodes.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first photodiode module receives said initial input voltage from a voltage source.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said initial voltage is essentially greater than zero.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a third photodiode module up-converts said second up-converted voltage.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first photodiode module is encapsulated in an encapsulation media.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first photodiode module and said second photodiode module are encapsulated in an encapsulation media.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first module has a first up-converting rate and said second module has a second up-converting rate.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first up-converting rate is substantially equivalent to said second up-converting rate.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second up-converted voltage is applied to a miniaturized X-ray device, said up-converter voltage sufficient to enable said X-ray device to irradiate X-rays at a desired location.
11. A method of voltage up-converting comprising the steps of:
electrically coupling a first up-converting module to a second up-converting module;
optically coupling a photon source to said first and said second up-converting modules;
utilizing said photon source to generate at said first up-converting module a first up-converted voltage;
providing said first up-converted voltage to said second up-converting module from said first up-converting module; and
utilizing said photon source to up-convert said first up-converted voltage at said second up-converting module.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing an input voltage from a voltage source to said first up-converting module; and up-converting said input voltage to said first up-converted voltage.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing a third up-converting module, said third up-converting module utilizing a third up-converting rate to up-convert said second up-converted voltage to a third up-converting voltage.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of encapsulating said first up-converting module in an encapsulating media.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of encapsulating said first and said second up-converting module in an encapsulating media.
16. A miniaturized, flexible voltage up-converting instrument comprising:
an X-ray generating source insertable into a body of a patient to a location in close proximity to a desired point of X-ray application; and
a first modular photodiode voltage up-converter coupled to said X-ray generating source;
wherein an up-converted voltage is applied to said X-ray source to generate a desired amount of X-ray dose at said desired point of X-ray application.
17. The invention of claim 16 further comprising a second modular photodiode voltage up-converter coupled to an input of said first modular voltage up-converter, said first modular photodiode providing an upconverted voltage to said first modular photodiode voltage up-converter.
18. The invention of claim 16 wherein said apparatus is a medical device.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein said medical device is a catheter.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said catheter has an outer diameter of approximately 1-3 millimeters.
21. A miniaturized, flexible voltage up-converting instrument comprising:
an X-ray generating source insertable into a body of a patient to a location in close proximity to a desired point of X-ray application; and
a first modular voltage up-converter coupled to said X-ray generating source;
wherein an up-converted voltage is applied to said X-ray source to generate a desired amount of X-ray dose at said desired point of X-ray application.
22. The invention of claim 21 further comprising a second modular voltage up-converter coupled to an input of said first modular voltage up-converter, said second modular voltage up-converter providing an upconverted voltage to said first modular voltage up-converter.
23. The invention of claim 22 wherein said second modular photodiode voltage up-converter is flexibly coupled to an input of said first modular voltage up-converter.
24. The invention of claim 21 wherein said apparatus is a medical device.
25. The method of claim 21 wherein said medical device is a catheter.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein said catheter has an outer diameter of approximately 1-3 millimeters.