초록 ▼

An energy supply system for implantable medical devices generates an energy supply by a photovoltaic converter which transforms the light coming from outside of the body. The light is carried to the converter by an optical fiber. This system allows the implanted devices to work without the time rest

An energy supply system for implantable medical devices generates an energy supply by a photovoltaic converter which transforms the light coming from outside of the body. The light is carried to the converter by an optical fiber. This system allows the implanted devices to work without the time restrictions of batteries and opens the door to the development of new devices with much higher power ratings. The system includes a light source (1) external to the patient's body, an optical fiber (3) which runs from a point on the surface of the patient to the implantable device (4) and a photovoltaic converter (5) placed inside the device where the optical fiber ends. Finally, a power conditioning stage (6) ensures that the electrical power generated suits the needs of the other components (7) of the implantable device.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A photovoltaic energy supply system for an implantable medical device comprising very thin optical fiber of biocompatible material for being implanted into a living body and sealed at one end to the skin of said body by epithelialization, and a photovoltaic converter connected to t

[ We claim:] [1.] A photovoltaic energy supply system for an implantable medical device comprising very thin optical fiber of biocompatible material for being implanted into a living body and sealed at one end to the skin of said body by epithelialization, and a photovoltaic converter connected to the opposite end of said fiber for transforming ambient light from the outside of the body and passing through said optical fiber into electric power for said medical device, a power conditioning stage at the output of the photovoltaic converter, means for modifying said power for use by said device, and means for sending information from the implanted device to monitor the state and function of the system or of the patient.