Annular Battery Arrangement for Cochlear Implant External Processor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cochlear implant systems face efficiency issues due to excessive eddy currents and capacitive effects caused by conductive band materials in rechargeable batteries within magnetic fields, leading to reduced coupling efficiency in inductive power and data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A novel battery arrangement with conductive band plates parallel to magnetic field lines and multiple battery cells in annular sections around the central axis, minimizing capacitive effects and eddy currents, and displacing the center of mass to define a preferred rotational position, is integrated into an external processor housing for improved coupling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conductive band materials (aluminum and copper) are used in rechargeable batteries, then electrical power can be provided to the signal processor and transmitter coil, but excessive eddy currents are generated in the magnetic field which reduces coupling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is divided into multiple battery cells arranged in an annular configuration, with each cell containing conductive bands separated by insulating material. This segmentation breaks the continuous conductive path that would generate excessive eddy currents, while still providing the necessary electrical power to the signal processor and transmitter coil.
Solution Approach 2:
Insulating material is introduced between adjacent conductive bands of opposite polarity within each battery cell. This intermediary prevents direct electrical contact between the conductive bands while maintaining the battery's electrical function, thereby reducing eddy current generation in the magnetic field.
2Quantity of substance
If conductive band materials are stacked in battery cells, then electrical power can be stored and provided, but capacitive effects increase which reduces transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is segmented into multiple cells with insulating material between conductive bands, reducing the overall capacitive coupling between adjacent bands while maintaining adequate power storage capacity through the annular arrangement of multiple cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cells are arranged in an annular configuration around the central axis rather than in a linear stack. This dimensional change reduces the overlapping area between conductive bands of opposite polarity, thereby reducing capacitive effects while maintaining power storage capacity.
3Device complexity
If all external components (processor and battery) are placed in a single housing, then device integration is improved, but the housing height increases which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cells are arranged in an annular configuration around the central axis, extending in the radial direction rather than the vertical direction. This allows the signal processor to be positioned closer to the skin surface while the battery occupies the annular space, reducing overall housing height while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cells are nested in an annular region around the central axis, with the signal processor positioned centrally. This nested arrangement allows both components to coexist in a compact configuration that minimizes housing height while maintaining integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces unwanted eddy currents and capacitive effects, enhancing the efficiency of power and data transmission between external and implanted coils, while allowing for a lower profile and preferred rotational positioning of the device.
Implementation Method 1
The processor housing also contains a transmitter coil for coupling the implant data signal across the skin to the implantable prosthetic system
Implementation Method 2
An external positioning magnet is radially inward of the battery compartment for magnetically interacting with a corresponding internal positioning magnet in the implantable prosthetic system to hold the device in a fixed position on the skin
Implementation Method 3
The rechargeable batteries (e.g. Lithium-Ion batteries) for such systems have conductive band materials such as aluminum and copper which are coated with battery chemistry (e.g. graphite) and are stacked on top of each other. But when such a battery is placed within a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying coil, the conductive band materials generate undesired eddy currents
Data Source
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AI summary
An external processor device is described for an implantable prosthetic system. An external processor housing has a generally planar skin contacting surface and a central axis perpendicular to the skin contacting surface. A signal processor is located within the processor housing for developing an implant data signal. The processor housing also contains a transmitter coil for coupling the implant data signal across the skin to the implantable prosthetic system. A battery compartment is also located within the processor housing in an annular region around the central axis for containing a battery arrangement to provide electrical power to the signal processor and the transmitter coil.