Implantable Bus Stimulation System with Coupling Capacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implanted stimulation systems face challenges in networking multiple units for information exchange and energy supply while minimizing bulk and preventing undesirable electrical currents within the body.
Innovation Solution
A stimulation system with distributed elements, including a controller with energy and data emission modules, and remote units with energy recovery and data emission/reception modules, connected via a wired bus comprising a common reference wire, an energy wire with coupling capacitors, and a data wire with coupling capacitors, allowing for efficient energy and data transfer while avoiding DC currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple implants are connected individually to a central unit, then information exchange between units is enabled, but the system cannot verify potential drift and measurement reliability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual connections into a shared common reference wire architecture. Instead of each implant having its own dedicated reference connection to the central unit, all implants share a common reference wire, enabling potential drift verification across the network while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The common reference wire serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the reference potential for all implants, enables measurement of potential drift across the network, and facilitates robust communication between all distributed units. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by improving reliability without increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If units are implanted in the body, then stimulation and measurement functions are achieved, but electrical currents may leak into the intra-body medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces coupling capacitors as intermediary elements between the wired bus and the implants. These capacitors block direct current paths to the intra-body medium while allowing signal transmission, thus preventing electrical current leakage without requiring complex active control circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the charge control function from active electronic components and replaces it with passive coupling capacitors. This extraction removes the need for complex charge management circuits while maintaining electrical isolation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
3Productivity
If a wired bus connects all distributed elements, then energy and data transfer efficiency is improved, but DC currents may be injected into the body
Solution Approach 1:
Coupling capacitors are placed in series with the wired bus connections to all implants. These capacitors block DC current components while allowing AC signal transmission, thus eliminating harmful DC injection while preserving efficient energy and data transfer through the wired bus architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the bus connection by introducing capacitive coupling. This transforms the connection from a direct DC-capable path to an AC-coupled path that naturally blocks DC currents while maintaining signal integrity for energy and data transfer.
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
The system enables reliable and robust communication and energy transfer between units, preventing electrical currents from leaking into the body, and allowing for the addition of remote units as needed, enhancing the system's flexibility and performance.
Implementation Method 1
an energy wire connected via a coupling capacitor to the energy emission module of the controller; and connected directly to the energy recovery modules of the at least one remote unit
Data Source
AI summary
A stimulation system designed to be implanted in a person and including several distributed elements connected by a wire bus comprising an energy wire, a data wire and a reference wire.