Devices, Methods, and Systems for Harvesting Energy in the Body

Abstract

In some embodiments, the power generator for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy may include a compressible element adapted and configured to be placed in an environment having a variable compressive force such as varying ambient pressures. The compressible element may be compressed by a force applied by the variable pressure to the compressible element. The power generator may further include a transducer that may be coupled to the compressible element and that may convert mechanical energy from the compression of the compressible element to electrical energy. In some embodiments, the power generator may be adapted to be an implantable power generator for converting mechanical energy from a patient to electrical energy, such that the compressible element adapted and configured to be placed between two adjacent tissue layers of the patient and to be compressed by a force applied from the two adjacent tissue layers to the compressible element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for generating power by converting mechanical energy from a patient to electrical energy, the method comprising:
 positioning a compressible element of an implantable power generator between a muscle layer and an adjacent bone of the patient;   receiving a pressure applied by the muscle layer against the adjacent bone with the compressible element thereby compressing the compressible element; and   converting mechanical energy from the compression of the compressible element to electrical energy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element between a temporalis bone and a temporalis muscle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element such that a surface of the compressible element is supported by a temporal fossa of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element through an incision in the patient, such that the structural integrity of the muscle that connects the coronoid process of the mandible to the superior temporalis line is maintained. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element in at least a portion of the temporalis muscle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing the electrical energy in a storage device of the implantable power generator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of powering a medical device with the electrical energy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of powering a medical device with the stored electrical energy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element between a pectoral muscle and a bone of the torso. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element between a pectoral muscle and a rib. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element between a gluteus maximus muscle and a pelvic bone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element between a gluteus maximus muscle and a femur. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , the receiving step further comprising receiving a pressure applied by the temporalis muscle during chewing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , the receiving step further comprising receiving a pressure applied by the temporalis muscle during speech. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element under a torso muscle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the torso muscle comprises a pectoral muscle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the torso muscle comprises a latissimus dorsi muscle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the torso muscle comprises an abdominal muscle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , the positioning step further comprising positioning the compressible element under a limb muscle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the limb muscle comprises a biceps muscle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the limb muscle comprises a quadriceps muscle.