US 12,329,979 B2
Implantable, biofuel cells for self-charging medical devices
Joseph Wang, San Diego, CA (US); Krishnan Chakravarthy, San Diego, CA (US); and Itthipon Jeerapan, La Jolla, CA (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US)
Filed by The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/429,290.
Application 18/429,290 is a division of application No. 17/293,897, previously published as PCT/US2019/061537, filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/767,389, filed on Nov. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0299760 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. A61N 1/378 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01); H01M 4/86 (2006.01); H01M 8/00 (2016.01); H01M 8/16 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/3785 (2013.01) [A61N 1/36062 (2017.08); H01M 4/8673 (2013.01); H01M 8/004 (2013.01); H01M 8/16 (2013.01); H01M 2220/30 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A self-charging medical device, comprising:
a catheter comprising a first elongated tube and a second elongated tube coupled to the first elongated tube at one or more coupling positions along a longitudinal side of the first and second elongated tubes, the first elongated tube including a first compartment having a first hollow interior portion and a first array of three or more openings from an outer surface of the first elongated tube into the first hollow interior portion, the second elongated tube including a second compartment having a second hollow interior portion and a second array of three or more openings from an outer surface of the second elongated tube into the second hollow interior portion, wherein the second hollow interior portion is separated from the first hollow interior portion, and wherein the first and second elongated tubes include a bendable material; and
a biofuel cell integrated in the catheter and comprising an anode assembly disposed in the first elongated tube and a cathode assembly disposed in the second elongated tube, the biofuel cell operable to extract electrical energy from a substance in a biological fluid across the anode assembly and the cathode assembly to supply the extracted electrical energy for the catheter,
the anode assembly comprising a first wire and a first substance, the first wire and the first substance disposed within the first hollow interior portion, wherein the first substance is coupled to at least a portion of the first wire proximate the first array of three or more openings of the first elongated tube, and wherein the first substance includes a functionalization material comprising a catalyst to facilitate conversion of the substance in the biological fluid to a first product in an oxidative process that releases electrons captured at the first wire,
the cathode assembly comprising a second wire and a second substance, the second wire and the second substance disposed within the second hollow interior portion, wherein the second substance is coupled to at least a portion of the second wire proximate the plurality of second array of three or more openings of the second elongated tube, and wherein the second substance includes a catalytic material to reduce an oxygenated substance in the biological fluid to a second product in a chemical reduction process in which the second product gains electrons.