摘要:
Several different embodiments of a flexible polymer battery are disclosed in connection with providing a medical therapy. For example, the electrical current from the polymer battery may be used to energize light sources for administering light therapy. In one embodiment, the polymer battery is formed as a substantially elongate structure having one end attached to an internal receiver coil, and the other end attached to a medical device such as a light probe that is adapted to be implanted within a patient's body. The polymer battery thus provides a conductive link between the internal receiver coil, which is electromagnetically coupled to an external transmitter coil for recharging the battery, and the light probe which is energized with current supplied by the flexible polymer battery. In another embodiment, the polymer battery is used to support a substrate on which a plurality of light sources are mounted in spaced-apart array. Yet other forms of the invention include polymer batteries within capsules or bead to energize light sources contained therein. The beads include receiver coils for recharging the polymer battery. Further, because of their small size, the beads or capsules are readily moved or held at a treatment site with an external magnet while therapy is rendered. Since a polymer battery includes very little metal, it is less likely to cause artifacts when the patient's body is imaged.
摘要:
An external power head is energized by a motor causing movement of an element that produces a varying magnetic field, thereby inducing power in an implanted receiver coil within a patient's body. The external power head includes either one or more moving permanent magnets, or one or more moving elements that vary the magnetic flux coupled to the implanted receiver coil. As a result of the varying magnetic field experienced by the implanted receiver coil, an electric current flows from the implanted receiver coil to energize an implanted medical device.
摘要:
A magnet used for concentrating a medical substance carried by a magnetic fluid at an internal treatment site. The magnet is inserted through an opening in a patient's body and advanced to the internal treatment site. Although an electromagnet is used in one alternative embodiment, the magnet is preferably a super neodymium or other rare earth permanent magnet having a high field strength. A probe that includes the magnet is coated with a biologically inert material, such as a TEFLON.TM. polymer. Alternatively, a plurality of such magnets can be employed. In the preferred embodiment, a magnetic fluid that includes particles coated with a photoreactive agent is injected into the patient's body, preferably, immediately adjacent to or inside the treatment site. The particles in the magnetic fluid are attracted to the magnet at the treatment site, and the concentration of the photoreactive agent absorbed into the tissue around the magnet at the internal treatment site is enhanced. The photoreactive agent is used to provide a photodynamic therapy (PDT) to the treatment site that destroys cells that have absorbed the photoreactive agent when the internal treatment site is illuminated by light of an appropriate waveband. A PDT probe having a light source that emits light of the required waveband is inserted into the patient's body and advanced to the treatment site to effect the PDT. The magnet (or magnets) can also be disposed inside the PDT probe, which then carries the magnet(s) to the internal treatment site.
摘要:
An external power head is energized by a motor causing movement of an element that produces a varying magnetic field, thereby inducing power in an implanted receiver coil within a patient's body. The external power head includes either one or more moving permanent magnets, or one or more moving elements that vary the magnetic flux coupled to the implanted receiver coil. As a result of the varying magnetic field experienced by the implanted receiver coil, an electric current flows from the implanted receiver coil to energize an implanted medical device.
摘要:
Several embodiments of relatively compact transmitter coils and receiver coils having an improved transcutaneous power transfer efficiency. The transmitter coils are preferably applied to the outer surface of a cutaneous layer on a patient's body and held in place using adhesive tape or other appropriate supporting material. Implanted within the patient's body is a receiver coil. To improve the power transfer efficiency of one embodiment, a transmitter coil and receiver coil include cores having pole faces with a substantially larger area than the cross section of the core at other locations. In addition, the core of the receiver coil is substantially shorter than that of the transmitter coil so that the lines of flux produced by the transmitter coil tend to pass through the pole faces of the receiver coil in greater density than they would if the pole faces of the transmitter and receiver cores were spaced identically. Relatively compact configurations for the transmitter core include an angled portion adjacent each of the pole faces so that the main portion of the transmitter core is disposed generally parallel and closely spaced to the surface of the cutaneous layer against which the transmitter core is placed. Further, two separate transmitter windings are provided on the transmitter core with an intermediate section joining the portions of the core on which these windings are disposed. This configuration provides enhanced power transfer capability compared to using a single winding around the intermediate section of the core.
摘要:
An inexpensive and easy to use coupling for connecting one end of a corrugated flexible hose to a meter or distributor outlet, or to another hose on an implement such as an air drill or seeder. Two generally semi-cylindrical portions are molded as a single unit with integral hinge and locking structure. The inner surface of the cylindrical member is corrugated to correspond to the corrugations on the flexible hose, and an end portion of the coupling device includes an annular groove which mates with a flange on the outlet. The locking structure automatically latches as the semi-cylindrical portions are closed around the hose and the flange.
摘要:
A secondary zinc electrode, for example, for a nickel/zinc cell has an electrically conductive support onto each major surface of which is pressed an active zinc material. A grid structure defining a plurality of compartments is pressed into the material on each major surface of the support so as to separate the active material into a plurality of physically separate areas. Such an arrangement mitigates the shape change problem to which secondary zinc electrodes are prone in service.
摘要:
A bipolar system comprises a plurality of flexible, conductive electrode strips assembled into a stack with porous, flexible, insulating separator strips being interposed between adjacent electrode strips. Each electrode strip at the exterior of the stack is provided on its innermost surface with electrochemically active material, and the or each electrode strip in the interior of the stack is provided on each of its opposite major surfaces with electrochemically active material. Sealing means is provided around the ends and lowermost edges of the electrode strips.The stack of electrode strips and separator strips is folded into a serpentine configuration and then mounted in a generally rectangular battery box such that the serpentine configuration winds back and forth between opposite walls of the box with electrochemically active material of opposite polarity on an adjacent strip.
摘要:
Vouchers and methods for providing vouchers configured to assist in distinguishing unauthorized duplicate or counterfeit vouchers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a voucher can include a substrate, a first indicia on the substrate, and a thermally responsive second indicia on the substrate. At least one of the first indicia and the second indicia can indicate a value of the voucher. A system which assists in detecting alteration of value documents or transmissions, such as a coin counter voucher is provided. Voucher information such as the voucher value is included in the voucher in an encrypted or otherwise modified form. When the voucher is presented for redemptions, the encrypted information is decrypted and compared to independently available voucher information. Failure of the information to match indicates that the voucher has been altered or should otherwise be further checked.