Battery Switch Coordination for Implantable Neurostimulator Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices (IMDs) face significant power consumption challenges, particularly in battery-powered neurostimulators used for therapies like bladder dysfunction treatment, where continuous stimulation leads to increased energy drain and reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hibernation mode where the device disconnects from the battery power during non-stimulation periods, using a battery switch controlled by power domain firmware that receives requests from multiple firmware modules to determine when to open or close the switch, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous stimulation is delivered to treat bladder dysfunction, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic stimulation delivery with on-cycles and off-cycles, where the battery switch is closed during on-cycles to deliver therapy and opened during off-cycles to conserve power. This periodic operation allows the device to maintain therapeutic effectiveness while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous stimulation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the battery switch is opened to save power during non-stimulation periods, then power consumption is reduced, but the device cannot deliver therapy when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by setting pre-programmed on-cycles and off-cycles in advance. The power domain firmware and plurality of firmware modules anticipate when therapy is needed and prepare the battery switch state accordingly, closing the switch before on-cycles begin and opening it before off-cycles start, ensuring seamless therapy delivery without delay while maximizing power savings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple firmware modules independently control the battery switch, then each module can optimize its function, but coordination complexity increases and power management becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces power domain firmware as an intermediary layer between the plurality of firmware modules and the battery switch. Each firmware module (therapy delivery, sensing, telemetry) independently requests battery switch state changes based on its needs, and the power domain firmware coordinates these requests, determining the optimal switch state that satisfies all modules while minimizing power consumption. This mediator approach maintains module independence while solving coordination complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An example implantable neurostimulator includes a battery configured to provide power to the implantable neurostimulator, a battery switch configured to open or close, and a plurality of firmware modules. At least two of the plurality of firmware modules are configured to generate and transmit one or more respective requests. The implantable neurostimulator also includes power domain firmware configured to receive the one or more respective requests, determine whether to open in response to the one or more respective requests, and control the battery switch to open in response to the determination.