The implant comprises a tubular body housing an energy harvesting module adapted to convert external stresses applied to the implant into electrical energy, by means of an inertial pendular unit comprising an elastically deformable element coupled to an inertial mass, as well as a rechargeable battery adapted to be recharged by the energy harvesting module, the battery being previously charged at an initial charge level. The accessory comprises an external source of electrical energy for the temporary storage of an electrical energy during the transportation and storage of the implant, the external source being physically separated from the implant. A temporary electrical coupling link from the external source to the implant rechargeable battery ensures a power supply of the rechargeable battery by the external source and hence maintains, during the whole transportation and storage duration before implantation, a battery charge level higher than a minimum predetermined level. A protection support wedges the implant with respect to the accessory while ensuring the electrical coupling of the implant to the external source, thanks to a shock-absorbing structure and vibration-filtering structure, with a texture of elastically deformable strands or slats, wrapping and wedging the implant in position inside the protection support.

An energy harvester includes a pendular unit subjected with a piezoelectric beam coupled to an inertial mass. On the clamped side of the beam, a beam frame includes two pressing elements between which the beam is taken in sandwich, each including i) an intermediate part, an internal face of which presses on a corresponding face of the beam, and ii) a pressure plate, an internal face of which presses on an external face of the intermediate part, a printed circuit board being interposed between them. The intermediate parts and the pressure plates are passed through by at least one common transverse bore receiving a locking pin. The intermediate parts, the pressure plates and the pin are each massive metal parts ensuring a direct electrical and mechanical contact with the electrodes of the beam and with the printed circuit boards.

An energy harvesting device includes a housing (2), a moveable device (12) disposed within the housing and including a first surface including a first material (15) and a second surface including a second material (17), wherein the moveable device is operable to move to bring the first and second surfaces together and apart to cause contact and separation between the first and second materials, a first strap (4) attached to the housing, a second strap (6) coupled to the moveable device, wherein movement of the second strap causes operation of the moveable device, and electronic circuitry (20) structured to harvest energy from the electrical charge generated by the contact between the first and second materials.

A method is provided for producing an electrically-powered device and/or component that is embeddable in a solid structural component, and a system, a produced device and/or a produced component is provided. The produced electrically powered device includes an attached autonomous electrical power source in a form of a unique, environmentally-friendly structure configured to transform thermal energy at any temperature above absolute zero to an electric potential without any external stimulus including physical movement or deformation energy. The autonomous electrical power source component provides a mechanism for generating renewable energy as primary power for the electrically-powered device and/or component once an integrated structure including the device and/or component is deployed in an environment that restricts future access to the electrical power source for servicing, recharge, replacement, replenishment or the like.

An oral care device for placement in the oral cavity. The oral care device may include a support component, a piezoelectric component, and/or a therapeutic element. The support component is configured for placement between one or more maxillary teeth and one or more mandibular teeth. The piezoelectric element is configured to generate an electrical current from relative movement of the maxillary teeth and the mandibular teeth. The therapeutic element is configured to release a therapeutic composition into the oral cavity at least in part in response to receiving the electrical signal. The device may include the piezoelectric component, the therapeutic element, or both.

A method, system and device for monitoring and treating conditions of a mammalian heart, among which may include bradyarrhythmias, tachyarrhythmias and heart failure, the device being configured as a pacemaker that harvests energy as it implements the pacemaker functions to treat and monitor conditions of the heart. The pacemaker has a case, electrical circuitry sealed within the case, an electrode that is electrically coupled to the electrical circuitry, and embodiments may include a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) for harvesting and converting the kinematic energy of the heart into electrical energy. Embodiments provide receivers at locations of the heart which sense heart activity and are controlled with pacing circuitry to deliver electrical impulses at locations and time intervals to replicate the contractions of a normal functioning heart. Further embodiments provide a multi-part pacemaker where case-connectable electrode part may be implanted separately from the case part.

An autonomous implantable capsule comprises a capsule body provided with an element for its anchoring to a patient's organ. An electronic unit is powered by an energy harvesting module provided with a pendular unit comprising an inertial mass coupled to an elastic piezoelectric beam forming a mechanical-electrical transducer for converting into electrical energy the oscillations of the beam. A mobile support, integral with the clamped end of the beam and mobile in axial rotation about the axis of the capsule body, can be directed by a controllable driver to adjust the angular position of the support so as to maximize the produced electrical power converted by the mechanical-electrical transducer.

The energy harvesting module is provided with a pendular unit comprising an inertial mass coupled to an elastic piezoelectric beam providing a power voltage. An acceleration sensor provides a signal representative of the instantaneous acceleration of the beam in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the beam, and an angular speed sensor provides a signal representative of the instantaneous angular speed of rotation of the beam about an axis perpendicular to a plane of bending of the beam. Based on the voltage, acceleration and angular speed values, a beam integrity monitoring circuit estimates parameters of a mechanical-electrical transfer function and derives therefrom metrics representative of physical and electrical parameters of the pendular unit and of the material of the beam. This makes it possible to evaluate the proper operation of the energy harvester and to detect a potential performance decrease liable to lead to a failure in the more or less short term.

A cochlear implant device is disclosed, comprising an inductive antenna, a stimulation unit, an electrode array, and an energy harvesting apparatus. The inductive antenna is configured to receive energy to operate the cochlear implant and to receive signals for a stimulation of a cochlea via an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes. The stimulation unit is configured to process the signals received by the inductive antenna to be usable for the electrodes of the electrode array. The electrode array is configured to apply the signals processed by the stimulation unit to the cochlea for the stimulation thereof. The energy harvesting apparatus is connected to the stimulation unit or to the electrode array, and is configured to harvest energy based on at least one of thermal, biochemical, biophysical, and mechanical processes/phenomena pertaining to the cochlea, and is configured to provide harvested energy to the stimulation unit or the electrode array, respectively.

Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for implantable a biofuel cells. In some aspects, a biofuel cell device for extracting energy from a biological fluid includes a substrate including two compartments each with one or more openings; an anode assembly disposed in the substrate and including an anode electrode and functionalization material to facilitate an oxidative process that releases electrons captured at the anode electrode; and a cathode assembly disposed in the substrate separated from the anode assembly and including a catalytic material facilitate a chemical reduction process such that the biofuel cell device extracts electrical energy from the substance in the biological fluid.