Patent ID: 8847548

Claim:
A wireless energy transfer system for powering devices implanted in a patient comprising: a high-Q source resonator having a first resonant frequency, the source resonator being external to the patient, coupled to a power source, and configured to generate oscillating magnetic fields, a high-Q device resonator having a second resonant frequency, the device resonator coupled to an implantable device requiring a supply power, the device resonator being internal to the patient, and configured to capture the oscillating magnetic fields generated by the source resonator, a temperature sensor, positioned to measure the temperature of the device resonator, and a tunable component coupled to the device resonator, wherein the tunable component is adjusted to detune the second resonant frequency away from the first resonant frequency in response to the measurement from the temperature sensor, and wherein a strength of the oscillating magnetic fields generated by the source resonator is adjusted to increase power output to maintain a level of power captured by the device resonator, thereby compensating for reduced efficiency resulting from detuning of the device resonator via the tunable component.