Implantable cardiac motion powered piezoelectric energy source
Implantable cardiac motion powered piezoelectric energy sources are provided. An aspects of embodiments of the subject implantable energy sources is that they include a piezoelectric transducer that converts cardiac mechanical energy to electrical energy. The subject energy sources find use in a variety of applications, including providing power to a wide range of implantable devices.
1. An implantable cardiac motion powered energy source comprising:
(a) a piezoelectric transducer that converts cardiac mechanical motion into electrical energy, wherein said piezoelectric transducer includes:
(i) a piezoelectric beam element, wherein said piezoelectric beam element is folded into a structure that comprises two beam parallel lengths that define an intervening void space;
(ii) a proof mass at one end of said beam element; and
(iii) a clamp element at another end of said beam element; and
(b) a storage element for storing electrical energy produced by said piezoelectric transducer.
2. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , wherein said energy source is dimensioned to be implanted at a cardiac location.
3. The implantable motion powered energy source according to claim 2 , wherein said cardiac location is a heart chamber.
4. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 2 , wherein said cardiac location is an epicardial location.
5. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , wherein said motion powered energy source has a natural frequency ranging from about 50 to about 1000 Hz.
6. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 5 , wherein said cardiac motion powered energy source has a natural frequency ranging from about 100 to about 300 Hz.
7. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , wherein said cardiac motion powered energy source includes mechanical stops for limiting range of motion of said proof mass.
8. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 7 , wherein said implantable medical device is a cardiac stimulation device.
9. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , wherein said cardiac motion powered energy source is in electrical communication with an implantable medical device.
10. A system comprising:
(a) an implantable medical device; and
(b) an implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 in electrical communication with said implantable medical device.
11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein said implantable medical device is a cardiac stimulation device.
12. A method comprising:
producing electrical energy from cardiac mechanical energy with an implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 that is positioned at a cardiac location; and
powering an implantable medical device with energy produced by said implantable cardiac motion powered energy source.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises storing electrical energy produced by said source in an energy storage element.
14. A kit comprising:
an implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 .
15. The kit according to claim 14 , wherein said kit further comprises an implantable medical device.
16. The kit according to claim 15 , wherein said implantable medical device is a cardiac stimulation device.
17. The kit according to claim 16 , wherein said cardiac stimulation device is a cardiac resynchronization therapy device.
18. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein said piezoelectric transducer and storage element are sealed in the housing.
19. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , wherein said cardiac motion powered energy source has a natural frequency that is matched to cardiac motion.
20. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the piezoelectric beam element is 5 mm or more.
21. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric transducer produces electrical energy of 5 μW or more.
22. The implantable cardiac motion powered energy source according to claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric transducer produces electrical energy of 10 μW or more.