Blood Pump Charge Control for Battery Life and Thermal Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries used in electrically operated medical devices like ventricular assist devices (VADs) suffer from reduced service life due to frequent charging and discharging, and thermal issues during charging, posing safety risks and power loss.
Innovation Solution
A control unit with a charge management system that adjusts charging voltage, current, and set limits based on operating parameters such as temperature, charging source, and power output to optimize battery usage and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If lithium-ion batteries are frequently charged and discharged to enable mobility, then the operational capability is improved, but the service life decreases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the charging voltage and current based on the battery's state of charge and temperature. The charging process uses different voltage profiles (constant current, constant voltage, and tapering phases) to optimize both charging speed and battery longevity, resolving the contradiction between operational capability and service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics through adaptive charging control that continuously monitors battery parameters and adjusts charging characteristics in real-time. The system transitions between different charging phases and modifies charging parameters dynamically, allowing the battery to be charged efficiently while preserving its service life through optimized charge management.
2Productivity
If charging voltage and current are increased to reduce charging time, then charging speed is improved, but thermal issues and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action through a multi-phase charging process that alternates between constant current charging, constant voltage charging, and tapering phases. This periodic structure allows the battery to be charged at high rates when safe, then transitions to lower rates as the battery approaches full charge or when thermal limits are approached, maintaining charging speed while managing thermal risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring battery voltage, current, and temperature during charging. The system uses this feedback to dynamically adjust charging parameters, reducing voltage and current when temperature rises or when the battery approaches full charge, thereby maintaining charging efficiency while preventing thermal runaway and safety hazards.
3Power
If charging is performed at high temperatures to maintain performance, then power output is maintained, but battery defects and power loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing temperature monitoring and charging parameter adjustment before thermal damage can occur. The system proactively reduces charging voltage and current when temperature thresholds are approached, preventing battery defects and power loss before they manifest, thereby maintaining power output while avoiding energy loss from thermal degradation.
Data Source
AI summary
Control units for blood pumps and methods to operate such control units are disclosed. A control unit may comprise a blood pump port and include an energy storage unit and an energy supply unit. A charging interface may be configured to receive electrical energy from an external electrical energy source and a charge management unit may be configured to receive a charge level of the energy storage unit and to supply the energy storage unit with electrical charging power received via the charging interface to charge the energy storage unit. A control unit comprises at least one operating parameter detection unit configured to determine an operating parameter of the control unit. A charge management unit is designed to set a value of a charging voltage, a value of a charging current, an upper charging limit, and/or an alarm signal threshold value using at least one of the operating parameters.