MULTI-ELEMENT COUPLER FOR GENERATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY

There is disclosed a wireless power transfer system, comprising: an external transmitter configured to transmit wireless power by manipulating evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate propagating fields inside the tissue and thereby generate a spatially focused field inside the tissue; and an implantable device configured to receive the wireless power from the external transmitter, the implantable device including at least one sensor or stimulator configured to sense a parameter of the tissue or apply stimulation to the tissue. Also disclosed is a method for wirelessly powering an implanted device using a mid-field coupler device, the method comprising: exciting at least one coupling structure in the mid-field coupler device using an excitation signal; transmitting a wireless power signal from the at least one excited coupling structure, the transmitting including manipulating evanescent fields outside of a patient's body and thereby generating electromagnetic waves propagating inside the patient's body; receiving, at the implanted device, at least a portion of the wireless power signal transmitted by the mid-field coupler device; and in response to receiving the portion of the wireless power signal, at least one of: applying an electrostimulation therapy to the patient using the implanted device, and sensing a patient parameter using a sensor coupled to the implanted device.