EP-4739387-A1 - ENERGY HARVESTERS WITH FIXED AND MOVABLE COUPLINGS

Abstract

Devices for energy harvesting are provided. In some embodiments, a device includes a housing configured to be implanted within a patient, a power source positioned within the housing, and an energy harvesting mechanism positioned within the housing and configured to charge the power source. The energy harvesting mechanism can include a first piezoelectric element including a first portion fixedly coupled to a support within the housing and a second portion fixedly coupled to a harvester mass. The energy harvesting mechanism can also include a second piezoelectric element including a first portion coupled to the support and a second portion coupled to the harvester mass, such that: (a) the first portion of the second piezoelectric element is slidably coupled to the support, (b) the second portion of the second piezoelectric element is slidably coupled to the harvester mass, or (c) both (a) and (b).

Inventors

• NIELSEN, CHRISTIAN S.
• KARAMI, Amin
• OLIVETT, Anthony W.

Assignees

• Medtronic, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240610

Claims (1)

1. Atty Ref. No. A0010209WO01 CLAIMS 1. A device comprising: a housing configured to be implanted within a patient; a power source positioned within the housing; and an energy harvesting mechanism positioned within the housing and configured to charge the power source, wherein the energy harvesting mechanism comprises: a first piezoelectric element including a first portion fixedly coupled to a support within the housing and a second portion fixedly coupled to a harvester mass, and a second piezoelectric element including a first portion coupled to the support and a second portion coupled to the harvester mass, wherein: (a) the first portion of the second piezoelectric element is slidably coupled to the support, (b) the second portion of the second piezoelectric element is slidably coupled to the harvester mass, or (c) both (a) and (b). 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the second piezoelectric element is slidably coupled to the harvester mass. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the harvester mass comprises a recess formed therein, and the second portion of the second piezoelectric element is received within the recess. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the second portion of the second piezoelectric element is movable in a longitudinal direction within the recess. 5. The device of claim 3 or 4, further comprising a lubricious material within the recess. 6. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first portion of the Atty Ref. No. A0010209WO01 second piezoelectric element is fixedly coupled to the support. 7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first portion of the second piezoelectric element is slidably coupled to the support. 8. The device of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: the first piezoelectric element comprises a third portion coupled to a second support within the housing, and the second piezoelectric element comprises a third portion coupled to the second support. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second support is positioned between the first support and the harvester mass, or wherein the first support is positioned between the second support and the harvester mass. 10. The device of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first and second piezoelectric elements each comprise a longitudinal axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of the housing. 11. The device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first and second piezoelectric elements are electrically coupled to the power source in parallel. 12. The device of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first and second piezoelectric elements comprise different materials. 13. The device of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first and second piezoelectric elements comprise different stiffnesses. 14. The device of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a third piezoelectric element including a first portion coupled to the support and a second portion coupled to the harvester mass. Atty Ref. No. A0010209WO01 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first, second, and third piezoelectric elements face different directions.

Description

Atty Ref. No. A0010209WO01 ENERGY HARVESTERS WITH FIXED AND MOVABLE COUPLINGS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.63/512,434, filed July 7, 2023, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present technology generally relates to medical devices, and in particular, to energy harvesters with fixed and movable couplings. BACKGROUND Various types of implantable medical devices have been developed for monitoring or treating one or more conditions of a patient. For example, a cardiac pacemaker can monitor a patient’s heart activity and provide therapeutic electrical stimulation to the heart via electrodes. The electrical stimulation provided by the cardiac pacemaker can include signals such as pacing pulses to address abnormal cardiac rhythms (e.g., bradycardia). Some types of cardiac pacemakers are implanted at a distance from the heart and are coupled to one or more leads that extend intravascularly into the heart to position the electrodes in contact with cardiac tissue. However, the leads may be prone to fracture, which may result in unreliable or incorrect pacing, and may require replacement of the lead or even the entire pacemaker. Some types of cardiac pacemakers are sized to be completely implanted within one of the chambers of the heart, and may include electrodes integrated with or attached to the device housing rather than leads. Such pacemakers can be less invasive than traditional pacemakers and can avoid complications associated with lead fracture. However, the relatively small size of such pacemakers may limit the types of power sources that can be incorporated into the device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to Atty Ref. No. A0010209WO01 scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on illustrating clearly the principles of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates a pacing device implanted in the heart of a patient, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pacing device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG.3 is a side view of another pacing device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG.4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating electronic components of a pacing device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a device including an energy harvesting mechanism, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG.5B is a side cross-sectional view of the device of FIG.5A. FIG.5C is a closeup perspective view of a portion of the device of FIG.5A. FIG.6 is a partially schematic side cross-sectional view of a device including an energy harvesting mechanism and two supports, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG. 7A is a side cross-sectional view of a device including an energy harvesting mechanism, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG.7B is a partially schematic side cross-sectional view of a portion of the device of FIG.7A. FIG. 8A is a partially schematic side cross-sectional view of a device including an energy harvesting mechanism and a roller assembly, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG.8B is a partially schematic end cross-sectional view of a portion of the device of FIG.8A. Atty Ref. No. A0010209WO01 FIG.9A is a partially schematic illustration of a device including an energy harvesting mechanism and a roller assembly, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG.9B is a partially schematic illustration of a device including an energy harvesting mechanism and a roller assembly, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG.10 is a partially schematic end view of three piezoelectric elements with different principal bending directions, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present technology relates to energy harvesters for implantable devices. In some embodiments, for example, a device includes a housing configured to be implanted within a patient, a power source positioned within the housing, and an energy harvesting mechanism positioned within the housing and configured to charge the power source. The energy harvesting mechanism can include a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element that are each coupled to a support within the housing and to a harvester mass. The first piezoelectric element can be fixedly (e.g., rigidly) coupled to the support and to the harvester mass. The second piezoelectric element can be movably (e.g., slidably) coupled to the support, to the harvester mass, or both. The embodiments disclosed herein can provide various advantages compared to conventional devices and sys