Electricity energy harvesting with liquid crystal-magnetic particle composite particles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019009100-A1
Application number	US-201816028984-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 6, 2018
Priority date	Jul 7, 2017
Publication date	Jan 10, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus generate electrical currents and/or voltage in tissue using particles composed of liquid crystals and magnetic particles.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one device being no more than 100 microns in any single dimension, containing at least one magnetic particle in a liquid crystal solution, and being positioned in living tissue; and an instrument for converting a magnetic field into an electrical field for application to the at least one device located in living tissue.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one device is untethered within the living tissue.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a biocompatible material.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more sections of the device are coated with a material to enhance transport to or through living tissue.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more sections of the device are coated with a material to enhance transport into the brain.

6 . A method for changing an electrical state of at least one device present in living tissue, the method comprising:
positioning the at least one device within the living tissue, wherein the at least one device is no more than 100 microns in any single dimension and contains at least one magnetic particle in a liquid crystal solution; and applying one or more magnetic fields to the at least one device to produce electrical energy.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one device is untethered within the living tissue.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a biocompatible material.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein one or more sections of the device are coated with a material to enhance transport to or through living tissue.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein one or more sections of the device are coated with a material to enhance transport into the brain.

11 . A method for altering and monitoring an electrical state of at least one device present in living tissue, the method comprising:
positioning the at least one device within the living tissue, wherein the at least one device is no more than 100 microns in any single dimension and contains at least one magnetic particle in a liquid crystal solution; applying one or more magnetic fields to the at least one device to produce electrical energy; and remotely sensing a status of the at least one device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the status monitored is the magnetic status of the at least one device.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one device is untethered within the living tissue.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one or more sections of the at least one device are coated with a biocompatible material.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one or more sections of the device are coated with a material to enhance transport to or through living tissue.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one or more sections of the device are coated with a material to enhance transport into the brain.

Assignees

• Weinberg Medical Physics Inc

Inventors

• Weinberg Irving N

Classifications

• A61N1/40 Primary

  Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling (microwave apparatus A61N5/00); {Applying radio-frequency signals} · CPC title

• H02N1/08

  with conductive charge carrier, i.e. capacitor machines · CPC title

• A61B5/0515 Primary

  Magnetic particle imaging · CPC title

• A61B5/6846

  specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive · CPC title