The present invention relates to an electrochemical device for releasing ions, comprising an electrical circuit comprising a first electrode and a second electrode adapted for providing a galvanic cell when the electrodes are exposed to a fluid constituting an electrolyte, and a boost converter adapted for amplifying a potential generated between the first and the second electrode. The electrical circuit further comprises a third electrode connected with an output side of the boost converter, wherein the second and the third electrode constitutes an electrolytic cell powered by the galvanic cell when the electrodes are exposed to a fluid. The present invention further relates to devices, such as a toothbrush or a shaver, adapted for being used in connection with a fluid, comprising such electrochemical device for releasing ions.

An integrated circuit, such as included as a portion of a sensor node, can include a regulator circuit having an input coupleable to an energy harvesting transducer. The integrated circuit can include a wireless receiver circuit coupled to the regulator circuit and configured to wirelessly receive at least enough operating energy to establish operation of the sensor node without requiring the energy harvesting transducer. The integrated circuit can include a digital processor circuit coupled to the regulator circuit and a power management processor circuit. The digital processor circuit or one or more other circuits can include a subthreshold operational mode established by the power management processor circuit based on the selected energy consumption level. For example, establishing the subthreshold operational mode can include adjusting or selecting a supply voltage so as to establish subthreshold operation of a field effect transistor (FET) in the digital processor circuit or other circuits.

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.

The implant including an elongated tubular body, having at a first end a releasable device connected to an installation lead, and at a second end a member for anchoring to a heart wall, the tubular body housing a frame supporting an electronic unit. The implant further comprises an accelerometer. This accelerometer comprises a piezoelectric blade extending in cantilever from an embedding section of the frame, in a direction going from the first end to the second end.

The implant comprises a tubular body housing an energy harvesting module adapted to convert external stresses applied to the implant into electrical energy, and a rechargeable battery adapted to be charged by the energy harvesting module. During the storage, an external source physically separated from the implant is coupled to the implant rechargeable battery to maintain a minimum battery charge level. An interface circuit of the implant couples surface electrodes to the battery, with switching between: i) a transport and storage configuration where the electrodes are connected to the external source to receive from the latter a battery charging energy and/or to exchange communication signals with the outside through the wire link of the coupling; and ii) a functional configuration in which the surface electrodes are decoupled from the external source after the implant has been implanted. The implant further comprises a data transmitter circuit adapted, in the transport and storage configuration, to send communication signals, via the surface electrodes, on the link coupling to the external source, and/or a data receiver circuit adapted, in the transport and storage configuration, to receive, via the surface electrodes, communication signals transmitted on the link coupling to the external source.

Provided are a method for supplying power to an implantable medical device and a power supply system for an implantable medical device. The power supply system supplies a constant power to the implantable medical device even when there is a movement in a body, by using a wireless power transmitter unit, a wireless power receiver unit, and a piezoelectric sensor unit stacked at the wireless power receiver unit.

A smart cardiac assist device which may aid in ventricular recovery. The device proactively assists the left and the right ventricular chambers to contract and relax better. The device includes a plurality of sensors to understand the native cardiac function in real time and assist the heart as per its requirement and support required in real time.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for providing therapies and/or diagnostics with an implanted system. Some embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus for modulating tissues with conventional methods and/or new methods using mechanical forces. Some embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus for minimally invasive delivery of implanted systems. Some embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus for extensions of the implanted system that can expand, unroll, unfold, and/or unfurl.

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

The present application relates to stacked piezoelectric composites comprising piezoelectric structures. Suitably, the composites are useful as tissue-stimulating implants, including spinal fusion implants. The present application also relates to methods of making stacked piezoelectric composites.