Biothermal power source for implantable devices

Abstract

An implantable, rechargeable assembly comprised of an implantable device disposed within a living organism, an electrical storage device connected to the implantable device, and a thermoelectric charging assembly operatively connected to the electrical storage device. The thermoelectric charging assembly has devices for transferring thermal energy between the living organism and a thermoelectric module, for generating an electrical current from the thermal energy, for charging the electrical storage device with the electrical current, for determining the extent to which the electrical storage device is being charged with the electrical current, and for generating a signal whenever the extent to which the electrical storage device is being charged with the electrical current falls below a specified value.

1 . An implantable power supply adapted to be disposed within a living organism, said implantable power supply comprising:
 a thermoelectric module comprised of a first surface for transferring thermal energy, a second surface for transferring thermal energy, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements disposed between said first surface and said second surface for converting said thermal energy to electrical energy;   a pair of conductive leads operatively electrically connected to said thermoelectric module for conducting said electrical energy from said thermoelectric module; and   a control circuit for receiving and controlling said electrical energy through said conductive leads from said thermoelectric module.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a voltage regulator operatively electrically connected to said control circuit for regulating the voltage of said electrical energy. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical storage device. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said electrical storage device is a battery. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said electrical storage device is a capacitive storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising means for determining the extent to which said electrical storage device is charged. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising means for generating a signal when the energy content of said electrical storage device is below a certain specified level. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for reversing the polarity of said electrical energy from said thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising an electrical storage device selected from the group consisting of a battery, and a capacitive storage device. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for transferring thermal energy between said living organism and a thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         11 . The implantable power supply as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said means for transferring thermal energy between said living organism and said thermoelectric module comprises a thermally conductive member proximate to at least one of said first surface and said second surface of said thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         12 . The implantable power supply of  claim 11 , wherein said conductive member is an elongated rod having a proximal end proximate to said at least one of said first surface and said second surface of said thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         13 . An implantable assembly adapted to be disposed within a living organism, said implantable assembly comprising:
 a thermoelectric module comprised of a first surface for transferring thermal energy, a second surface for transferring thermal energy, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements disposed between said first surface and said second surface for converting said thermal energy to electrical energy;   a pair of conductive leads operatively electrically connected to said thermoelectric module for conducting said electrical energy from said thermoelectric module;   a control circuit for receiving and controlling said electrical energy through said conductive leads from said thermoelectric module; and   an implantable device receiving said electrical energy.   
     
     
         14 . The implantable assembly as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising an electrical storage device. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said electrical storage device is a battery. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said electrical storage device is a capacitive storage device. 
     
     
         17 . The implantable assembly as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising means for determining the extent to which said electrical storage device is charged. 
     
     
         18 . The implantable assembly as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising means for generating a signal when the energy content of said electrical storage device is below a certain specified level. 
     
     
         19 . The implantable assembly as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising means for reversing the polarity of said electrical energy from said thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         20 . The implantable assembly as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising means for transferring thermal energy between said living organism and a thermoelectric module.