Medical Device With Intra-Conductor Capacitive Energy Storage

Abstract

A medical device, such as for electrical stimulation, includes an electronic circuit that is implantable at a first location in an animal. The electronic circuit has an element for receiving a wireless signal and a power supply that converts electrical energy from that signal into a supply voltage for powering the medical device. An electrical lead, that extends from the electronic circuit through the animal, has a first conductor, a second conductor, and a plurality of capacitors connected between those conductors to store the supply voltage. An electrode is implanted in the animal and is connected to the electronic circuit by a third conductor. In one embodiment, the third conductor extends through the electrical lead electrically isolated from the capacitors, and in another embodiment, the third conductor is physically separate from the electrical lead.

1 . A medical device, for implantation into an animal, comprising: 
 an electronic circuit implantable at one location in the animal and having an element for receiving a wireless signal and a power supply that extracts electrical energy from the wireless signal in order to power the medical device;    an electrical lead extending outward from the electronic circuit through the animal and having a first conductor and a second conductor coupled to the power supply with a plurality of capacitors connected to the first and second conductors, wherein the plurality of capacitors store the electrical energy;    a first electrode for implantation at another location in the animal remote from the one location; and    a third conductor connecting the first electrode to the electronic circuit.    
   
   
       2 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the electronic circuit responds to a trigger event by applying the electrical energy from the plurality of capacitors to the first electrode stimulate an organ of the animal.  
   
   
       3 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the third conductor extends through the electrical lead.  
   
   
       4 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the third conductor is physically separate from the electrical lead.  
   
   
       5 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the a signal conductor extends through the electrical lead and connects the element for receiving a wireless signal to other components of the electronic circuit.  
   
   
       6 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the electrical lead comprises a shell extending around the first conductor, the second conductor, and the plurality of capacitors.  
   
   
       7 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of capacitors is connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       8 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of capacitors is connected in series between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       9 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of capacitors are divided into groups with the capacitors in each group connected in series and the groups connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       10 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the wireless signal is a radio frequency signal.  
   
   
       11 . The medical device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second electrode for implantation in the animal; and    a fourth conductor physically separate from the electrical lead and connecting the second electrode to the electronic circuit.    
   
   
       12 . A medical device comprising: 
 a first electrode for implantation at a first location in an animal;    a second electrode for implantation into the animal;    an electrical lead having a first conductor, a second conductor, a plurality of capacitors connected to the first and second conductors, and a third conductor is connected to the first electrode;    an element for receiving a wireless signal; and    a stimulation circuit for implantation at a second location in the animal and connected to the electrical lead, the second electrode and the element, the stimulation circuit using energy from the wireless signal to charge the plurality of capacitors with electrical energy, and responding to a trigger event by applying the electrical energy from the plurality of capacitors to the first electrode and the second electrode to electrically stimulate the animal.    
   
   
       13 . The medical device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the plurality of capacitors is connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       14 . The medical device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the plurality of capacitors is connected in series between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       15 . The medical device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the plurality of capacitors are divided into groups with the capacitors in each group connected in series and the groups connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       16 . The medical device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the electrical lead comprises a shell that extends around the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the plurality of capacitors.  
   
   
       17 . The medical device as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a second electrical lead having at least one signal conductor extending there through and connecting the element for receiving a wireless signal to the stimulation circuit.  
   
   
       18 . A medical device, for implantation into an animal, comprising: 
 an element for receiving a wireless signal;    a first electrode and a second electrode for implantation in the animal;    a stimulation circuit for implantation at a location in the animal and connected to the element, the stimulation circuit having a power supply that extracts electrical energy from the wireless signal to provide a supply voltage for powering the medical device, and responding to a trigger event by applying an electrical pulse across the first electrode and the second electrode to electrically stimulate the animal;    an electrical lead extending outward from the stimulation circuit through the animal and having a first conductor, a second conductor, and a plurality of capacitors connected to the first and second conductors, the first conductor and the second conductor being connected to the stimulation circuit to charge the plurality of capacitors with the supply voltage;    a third conductor separate from the electrical lead and connecting the first electrode to the stimulation circuit; and    a fourth conductor separate from the electrical lead and connecting the second electrode to the stimulation circuit.    
   
   
       19 . The medical device as recited in  claim 18  wherein the plurality of capacitors is connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       20 . The medical device as recited in  claim 18  wherein the plurality of capacitors is connected in series between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       21 . The medical device as recited in  claim 18  wherein the plurality of capacitors are divided into groups with the capacitors in each group connected in series and the groups connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.  
   
   
       22 . The medical device as recited in  claim 18  wherein the electrical lead comprises a shell that extends around the first conductor, the second conductor, and the plurality of capacitors.  
   
   
       23 . The medical device as recited in  claim 18  further comprising at least one signal conductor extending through the electrical lead and connecting the element for receiving a wireless signal to other components of the stimulation circuit.