Patent ID: 7715918

Claim:
A converter for converting contractile work of skeletal muscles into transportable energy, comprising: a relatively stationary end and a mobile end opposite the relatively stationary end and adapted to be connected to a skeletal muscle for movement of the mobile end relative to the relatively stationary end; at least one pair of tension elements operatively positioned between the mobile and stationary ends of the converter, the tension elements arranged in a serpentine pattern defining pairs of points of a first distance between the tension elements, and pairs of points of a second distance between the tension elements, the first distance being greater than the second distance; at least one piezoelectric crystal disposed between the tension elements, the at least one piezoelectric crystal adapted to convert the relative movement of the mobile end into transportable energy; and at least one energy conduit associated with the relatively stationary end for delivering the transportable energy to a power-consuming device implanted in a body.