Systems configured to transmit optical power signals transdermally out of a living subject, and devices and methods
View Patent ↗In an embodiment, a system includes an internal optical power transmitter configured to be disposed within a living subject. The internal optical power transmitter includes a power source configured to provide electrical energy and an electrical-optical converter operably coupled to the power source. The electrical-optical converter may be configured to convert at least a portion of the electrical energy into one or more optical power signals transdermally transmittable out of the living subject. The system further includes an external optical-electrical converter configured to convert the one or more optical power signals into one or more electrical power signals and at least one external device configured to be operably coupled to the external optical-electrical converter and powered by the one or more electrical power signals. Embodiments of methods, biocompatible electrical-optical converters, and internal optical power transmitters are also disclosed.
1. A method, comprising:
generating electrical energy, with an electrical generator disposed within a living subject, by converting internal body energy of the living subject to the electrical energy;
converting the electrical energy, generated by the electrical generator, within the living subject into one or more optical power signals;
transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μW;
converting the one or more optical power signals to one or more electrical power signals for electrically powering at least one device external to the living subject;
powering the at least one device located externally to the living subject using the one or more electrical power signals; and
utilizing the powering to control an operation of the at least one device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μW includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals with the power at about 10 μW to about 10 W.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μW includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals with the power at about 10 μW to about 1 mW.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μW includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals with the power at about 1 mW to about 100 mW.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μW includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals with the power at about 100 mW to about 1 W.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating electrical energy, with an electrical generator disposed within a living subject, by converting internal body energy of the living subject to electrical energy includes converting at least one of muscular energy, fluid energy, acceleration energy, or thermal energy of the living subject into the electrical energy.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the electrical energy from an energy storage device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the one or more optical power signals transdermally out of the living subject with a power of at least about 10 μW includes transmitting the one or more optical power signals to a target located externally to the living subject.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein powering the at least one device located externally to the living subject using the one or more electrical power signals includes powering a personal electronic device located externally to the living subject.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the one or more optical power signals responsive to receiving instructions transmitted transdermally into the living subject from the at least one device located externally to the living subject.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical power signals are focused prior to being transmitted transdermally out of the living subject.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical power signals are focused to at least partially account for optical spreading that occurs as the one or more optical power signals pass through tissue of the living subject.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical power signals are focused to at least partially confine the one or more optical power signals to a receiving aperture.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical power signals are steered prior to being transmitted transdermally out of the living subject.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical power signals are steered prior to being transmitted transdermally out of the living subject to at least partially direct the one or more optical power signals to a target located externally to the living subject.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selectively providing the electrical energy from one of first or second power sources.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying the electrical energy prior to the converting.