Abstract:
A medical implant including an implant body for insertion into a human and/or animal body. The implant body includes at least one first and at least one second contact portion, wherein the at least one first and the at least one second contact portions contact two tissue regions performing a relative movement with respect to one another. The at least one first and the at least one second contact portions are movable relative to one another, wherein a relative movement of the contact portions may be converted into an electrical signal.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/038,847 filed on 19 Aug. 2014, the specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a medical implant for insertion into the human and/or animal body. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, medical implants for insertion into the human and/or animal body are known. Typically, implants of this type may have a self-sufficient power supply, which draws energy from the body into which these implants have been inserted. Generally, this is also known as “energy harvesting”. Typically, the level of efficacy is low and the amount of energy obtained is therefore often insufficient. Generally, this is particularly the case with implants with therapeutic energy delivery, which have an increased energy demand. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One or more embodiments of the invention include an electronic implant that has an increased level of efficacy. 
         [0007]    One or more embodiments of the invention are achieved in accordance with elements of the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention will emerge from the rest of the claims, the description and the drawings presented herein. 
         [0008]    At least one embodiment of the invention includes a medical implant that is inserted into the human and/or animal body. In one or more embodiments, the medical implant includes an implant body, wherein the implant body may include at least one first and at least one second contact portion. In at least one embodiment, the contact portions may contact two tissue regions performing a relative movement with respect to one another, wherein the first and second contact portions are movable relative to one another, and wherein a relative movement of the contact portions may be converted into an electrical signal. 
         [0009]    One or more embodiments of the invention provide autonomous power supply of electronic implants, wherein the electronic implants are secured during the intended use between two body tissue portions that exert a more or less cyclical movement relative to one another. At least one embodiment of the invention may be used for all active implants that are implanted between body tissues that have a repeated, in particular continuous, movement relative to one another. In one or more embodiments, the movement energy of the tissue may be transformed into electrical energy via the contact portions connected to the tissue. At least one embodiment of the invention provides a very compact design and a good coupling of the tissue movement, wherein an improvement of the level of efficacy may be achieved. One or more embodiments of the invention may be suitable with permanently implantable electronic implants to provide diagnostics and/or therapy. 
         [0010]    In at least one embodiment, the first and/or the second contact portion may be coupled directly or indirectly to an electric generator in or on the implant body. According to one or more embodiments, a direct coupling corresponds to a mechanical connection to a movable part of a generator, for example a coil or a magnet electromagnetically operatively connected to the coil. 
         [0011]    In at least one embodiment, the first contact portion may include a fixing element to fasten the implant body to one of the tissue regions. For example, in one or more embodiments, the fixing element may be a fixing helix. In at least one embodiment, an adhesive bond may be provided between the implant housing and tissue region. 
         [0012]    In at least one embodiment, the first and/or second contact portion may be mechanically connected to a movable element of the generator. As such, in one or more embodiments, the contact region may be connected to the coil of a generator or to the magnet of the generator. In at least one embodiment, a movement of the contact portion may induce an electric voltage via the electromagnetic operative connection between coil and magnet. 
         [0013]    In at least one embodiment, the implant body may be formed in, or include, a number of parts, wherein at least two parts may be movable relative to one another, and wherein each of the parts of the implant body is associated with a contact portion. In one or more embodiments, the parts may be coupled using at least one piezoelectric element. In at least one embodiment, a mechanical oscillation generator may be arranged between parts of the implant body, at least in some regions. Due to the relative movement of the tissue, by way of one or more embodiments, the parts of the implant body may be moved relative to one another via the contact portions, wherein the kinetic energy of the tissue movement is diverted into the implant body and may be converted. 
         [0014]    In at least one embodiment, the generator may be an electrostatic generator, which may be driven via mechanical waves. In one or more embodiments, a micromechanical electrostatic generator may be used. In at least one embodiment, a mechanical structure may be provided between the parts of the multi-part implant body, such that mechanical oscillations are produced by the tissue movement and are adjusted in terms of frequency and mode of oscillation to the electrostatic generator. As such, in one or more embodiments, the mechanical structure may be operated as close to resonance as possible. 
         [0015]    In at least one embodiment, the second contact device may be a fixing element to fasten the implant body to one of the tissue regions. As such, in one or more embodiments, particularly effective coupling of the relative movement of the tissue regions into the implant is possible. 
         [0016]    At least one embodiment of the invention may include an energy store provided in the implant body. In one or more embodiments, the energy store may be an accumulator, a capacitor or a mechanical flywheel store. As such, in at least one embodiment, generated electrical energy may be stored and used selectively for diagnostics and/or for therapeutic energy delivery from the implant into the tissue. In one or more embodiments, the mechanical flywheel store may be used for short-term energy storage, wherein a conversion of the movement energy into a rotation energy is performed. In at least one embodiment, the rotation energy is only converted into an electrical energy as necessary, for example by electric loading of a generator. 
         [0017]    At least one embodiment may include a control and/or regulation unit provided in the implant body or may be coupled thereto in order to selectively induce a therapeutic energy delivery. Such a control and/or regulation unit, in one or more embodiments, may include an electronic circuit which initiates or stops or varies the corresponding therapy in accordance with the therapeutic demand, for example a timer in a cardiac pacemaker. 
         [0018]    In at least one embodiment, the implant may be formed as, or include, an epicardial pacemaker. Such a pacemaker, in one or more embodiments, may be inserted between the myocardium and pericardium and may use the strong relative movement between the myocardium and pericardium effectively to recover energy. 
         [0019]    In at least one embodiment, the implant may be arranged in other tissue regions that experience a constant movement, such as the lung-diaphragm region, muscular tissue transitions, vertebra transitions and bone transitions. 
         [0020]    One or more embodiments of the invention allow the level of efficacy of the energy recovery in electronic implants by conversion of mechanical body movements into electrical energy to be increased considerably compared with typical implants. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of at least one embodiment of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows relative movements present between myocardium and pericardium with an epicardial implant with a tissue region in a first position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows relative movements present between myocardium and pericardium with an epicardial implant with a tissue region in a second position compared with  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  schematically shows a section through an implantation area with an epicardial implant according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is fixed via a first contact portion in the form of a fixing helix in a first tissue region and which is fixed via a second contact portion at a further tissue region; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  schematically shows a section through an implantation area with an epicardial implant divided into two in a first position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein a first part of the implant is fixed via a first contact portion in the form of a fixing helix in a first tissue region and a second part of the implant is fixed via a second contact portion at a further tissue region, wherein the implant parts are connected to piezoelectric elements; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  schematically shows the implant of  FIG. 4  in a deflected position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  schematically shows a section through an implantation area with an epicardial implant divided into two in a first position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein a first part of the implant is fixed via a first contact portion in the form of a fixing helix in a first tissue region and a second part of the implant is fixed via a second contact portion at a further tissue region, wherein a mechanical oscillation generator is arranged between the implant parts, and 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  schematically shows the implant of  FIG. 6  in a deflected position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out at least one embodiment of the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0030]    One or more embodiments of the invention are described on the basis of epicardial pacemakers. In at least one embodiment, however, other permanently implantable electronic implants for diagnostics and/or therapy that may be inserted between body tissue regions that perform a relative movement with respect to one another may be used. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate relative movements present between two tissue regions of the myocardium and pericardium in an implantation area  200  in which an epicardial implant  100  is inserted, according to one or more embodiments of the invention. By way of at least one embodiment,  FIG. 1  shows the implantation area  200  with a tissue region in a first position  10 . According to one or more embodiments,  FIG. 2  shows a tissue region in a second position  20 . In at least one embodiment, the relative movement of the tissue between the two positions  10 ,  20  may be used to generate electrical energy in the implant  100 . In one or more embodiments, the path covered from the first position  10  relative to the furthest position  20  may be approximately 10 mm. In at least one embodiment, the movement may be caused by a muscular force that may then be diverted accordingly to sufficiently recover energy. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows a section through an implantation area  200  with an epicardial implant  100  according to one or more embodiments of the invention. In at least one embodiment, the implant  100  may include an implant housing  102 , which is fixed via a first contact portion  130  in the form of a fixing helix in a first tissue region  210 , for example the myocardium, and which is fixed via a second contact portion  140  to an opposed further tissue region  220 , for example the pericardium. In one or more embodiments, the second contact portion  140  may be coupled directly to an electric generator  150  in the implant body  102  and may move a magnet of the generator  150  relative to a coil (not illustrated) when the tissue regions  210 ,  220  perform a movement relative to one another. In at least one embodiment, the second contact portion  140  may be movably mounted and may perform a tilting movement about a hinge joint. 
         [0033]    In one or more embodiments of the invention, a lateral relative movement between the two tissue regions  210 ,  220  may be predefined in the implantation area  200  and is indicated in  FIG. 3  by dashed arrows pointing to the right and left. In at least one embodiment, the two contact portions  130 ,  140  may be connected to their respective tissue region  210 ,  220  and may be entrained thereby, such that the second contact portion  140  entrains the magnet of the generator  150  via a mechanical coupling when the contact portion  140  performs its tilting movement. In one or more embodiments, the contact portion  140 , for example, may be adhesively bonded to the tissue region  220 , for example using a fibrin adhesive or another suitable adhesive. 
         [0034]    By way of at least one embodiment, the magnet may be electromagnetically operatively connected to the coil and induces an electric voltage in the coil, which may be used to operate the implant  100 , for example for diagnosis delivery. In one or more embodiments, the magnet may be stored in an electric store (not illustrated) and called up as necessary. In at least one embodiment, the coil may be moved relative to the magnet. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show a section through an implantation area  200  with an epicardial implant  100  according to one or more embodiments of the invention. In at least one embodiment, the implant may be divided into two.  FIG. 4  shows the epicardial implant  100  in a first position, whereas  FIG. 5  shows the implant  100  from  FIG. 4  in a deflected position. 
         [0036]    In one or more embodiments, a first part  110  of the implant  100  may be fixed via its first contact portion  130  in the form of a fixing helix in a first tissue region  210 , for example the myocardium, and a second part  120  of the implant  100  may be fixed via its second contact portion  140  to a further tissue region  220 , for example the pericardium. In at least one embodiment, the parts  110 ,  120  may be connected via a resilient compound, in which strip-like piezoelectric elements  170  are embedded and may form a generator. In one or more embodiments, the second contact portion  140  may be fixed, for example as a barb, in the second tissue region  220 . 
         [0037]    According to at least one embodiment, when the tissue regions  210 ,  220  perform a lateral movement relative to one another, as is indicated in  FIG. 5  by dashed arrows pointing to the right and left, the piezoelectric elements  170  may be deformed. In one or more embodiments, the piezoelectric elements  170  may induce an electric voltage, which may serve as a voltage source for a current delivery, and/or may be coupled to an energy store  180 , for example an electrochemical energy store, to store energy. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show a section through an implantation area  200  with an epicardial implant  100  according to one or more embodiments of the invention. In at least one embodiment, the implant may be divided into two.  FIG. 6  shows the epicardial implant  100  in a first position, and  FIG. 7  shows the implant  100  from  FIG. 6  in a deflected position. 
         [0039]    By way of one or more embodiments, a first part  110  of the implant  100  may be fixed via a first contact portion  130  in the form of a fixing helix in a first tissue region  210 , for example the myocardium, and a second part  120  of the implant  100  may be fixed via a second contact portion  140  in the form of a bar to a further tissue region  220 , for example the pericardium. At least one embodiment of the invention may include a generator  150  in the form of a micromechanical electrostatic generator  410  arranged in the second implant part  120 . In one or more embodiments, electrostatic generators may include microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonators, which may be excited via vibration energy. In at least one embodiment, MEMS resonators may generate approximately 150 μW/cm 2  at their active chip face with suitable excitation, which is sufficient to supply to a pacemaker system. In one or more embodiments, the “high-performance electrostatic MEMS vibration energy harvesters” may generate their maximum power with suitable mechanical excitation, frequency and pulse shape. In at least one embodiment, a mechanical oscillation generator  420 , for example a frictional surface, may be provided between the first and second part  110 ,  120  of the implant  100 . In one or more embodiments, when the expected relative movement is performed, the mechanical oscillation generator  420  may generate a matching excitation frequency in the part  120  with the micromechanical electrostatic generator  410 . 
         [0040]    In at least one embodiment, the generator  150 ,  410  may be arranged on an accordingly matched resonator (not illustrated). 
         [0041]    One or more embodiments of the invention may include a control and/or regulation unit (not illustrated in the Figures) in the implant body  102 , or a control and/or regulation unit that may be coupled thereto, to induce a therapeutic energy delivery. As such, in at least one embodiment, energy may be used that is stored in a corresponding energy store  180  in the implant  100 . In one or more embodiments, a control and/or regulation unit may include an electronic circuit that initiates or stops or varies the corresponding therapy in accordance with the therapeutic demand, for example a timer in a cardiac pacemaker. 
         [0042]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teaching. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention.