Wireless energy transfer for medical applications
Wireless energy transfer devices and systems for medical environments include, in at least some implementations, a wirelessly powered surgical device including: a device resonator configured to generate an oscillating voltage from a captured oscillating magnetic field; and a surgical tool electrically coupled to the device resonator, the surgical tool having a functional output that is capable of being directly powered by the oscillating voltage, and the surgical tool having a rechargeable battery backup; wherein the oscillating voltage is at least 30 volts and has a frequency of at least 1 kHz. Wireless energy transfer is utilized to eliminate cords and power cables from operating instruments and electronic equipment, facilitating mobility.
1. A wirelessly powered surgical device comprising:
a device resonator configured to generate an oscillating voltage from a captured oscillating magnetic field; and
a surgical tool electrically coupled to the device resonator, the surgical tool having a functional output that is capable of being directly powered by the oscillating voltage, and the surgical tool having a rechargeable battery backup;
wherein the oscillating voltage is at least 30 volts and has a frequency of at least 1 kHz;
wherein the wirelessly powered surgical device comprises a robot comprising:
the device resonator and the surgical tool;
a source resonator to generate the captured oscillating magnetic field;
an energy storage system; and
an additional device resonator configured to receive power wirelessly from a wireless source separate from the robot.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery backup is electrically coupled to the device resonator and is configured to be recharged from the oscillating voltage.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the functional output includes an electric scalpel powered by the oscillating voltage.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the functional output includes a cauterizer powered by the oscillating voltage.
5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage sensor to measure a voltage of the oscillating voltage, thereby providing a voltage measurement.
6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a wireless communication capability to transmit the voltage measurement.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the source resonator and the device resonator has a quality factor greater than 100.
8. The device of claim 6 , wherein at least one parameter of the source resonator is adjusted in response to receiving the voltage measurement from the voltage sensor.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein a frequency of the oscillating magnetic field generated by the source resonator is adjustable in response to the voltage measurement received from the voltage sensor.
10. The device of claim 8 , wherein an output power of the source resonator is adjustable in response to the voltage measurement received from the voltage sensor.
11. A wirelessly powered surgical system comprising:
a source resonator configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field;
a device resonator wirelessly coupled to the source resonator and configured to generate an oscillating voltage energy from the oscillating magnetic field; and
a surgical tool having an electrical output that is capable of being directly powered by the oscillating voltage energy, and the surgical tool having a rechargeable battery backup;
wherein the oscillating voltage energy is at least 30 volts and has a frequency of at least 1 kHz; and
wherein the system comprises a robot comprising:
the source resonator;
a battery; and
an additional device resonator configured to receive power wirelessly from a wireless source separate from the robot.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the surgical tool includes an electric scalpel.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the surgical tool includes a tissue cauterizer.
14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a voltage sensor to measure a voltage of the oscillating voltage energy, thereby providing a voltage measurement.
15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a communication interface that couples the voltage sensor to the source resonator, the voltage sensor configured to transmit the voltage measurement to the source resonator.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one parameter of the source resonator is adjusted in response to the voltage measurement from voltage sensor.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein a frequency of the oscillating magnetic field generated by the source resonator is adjustable in response to the voltage measurement received from the voltage sensor.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein an output power of the source resonator is adjustable in response to the voltage measurement received from the voltage sensor.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the source resonator and the device resonator has a quality factor greater than 100.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the rechargeable battery backup is electrically coupled to the device resonator and is configured to be recharged from the oscillating voltage.
21. The system of claim 11 , wherein the additional device resonator is mounted on a movable extension of the robot.