External Charger Temperature Control for Implantable Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional external chargers for implantable medical devices lack the ability to adjust temperature settings based on individual patient preferences, leading to suboptimal charging times and discomfort due to fixed maximum temperature constraints.
Innovation Solution
An improved external charger with temperature monitoring and control circuitry that allows patients to set maximum temperature settings or choose from predefined programs, enabling dynamic adjustment of charging temperatures to optimize charging speed while ensuring comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed maximum temperature constraint is used in conventional external chargers, then patient safety is ensured, but charging time is extended and patient comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic temperature adjustment during the charging process. The external charger initially operates at a higher temperature to enable faster charging, then automatically reduces the temperature toward the end of the charging cycle to ensure patient comfort and safety. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by allowing high temperature when safe and fast charging is needed, while ensuring low temperature when patient contact occurs.
2Reliability
If a fixed maximum temperature constraint is used in conventional external chargers, then patient safety is ensured, but patient comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic temperature adjustment with distinct charging phases. During the initial charging phase, the external charger operates at a higher temperature for efficient charging. In the final phase before charging completion, the temperature is reduced to a comfortable level for patient contact. This periodic action pattern allows the system to prioritize speed when needed and comfort when patient interaction occurs.
3Productivity
If temperature is increased to reduce charging time, then charging speed is improved, but patient comfort and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts temperature based on the charging state and time. Early in the charging process when the battery capacity is low, the external charger operates at a higher temperature to maximize charging speed. As charging progresses and the battery approaches full capacity, the temperature is automatically reduced to ensure patient comfort during the final stages when the patient will contact the charger.
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 solution allows for faster and more comfortable charging by tailoring the charging temperature to individual patient needs, minimizing charging time without exceeding safe temperature limits.
Implementation Method 1
a primary function of the charger 12, as discussed further below, is to energize a charging coil 17. The external charger 12 can contain one or more circuit boards 72, 74, which contain the circuitry 76 needed to implement such functionality. In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in Figure 2, most of the circuitry 76 can be located on an orthogonal circuit board 74, which reduces interference and heating that might be produced by the charging coil 17
Implementation Method 2
The improved external charger 200 includes temperature monitoring and control circuitry 250, which operates to sense the temperature, T(EC), of the external charger 200
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An improved external charger for charging the battery within or providing power to an implantable medical device is disclosed. The improved external charger includes circuitry for detecting the temperature of the external charger and for controlling charging to prevent exceeding a maximum temperature. The external charger in some embodiments includes a user interface for allowing a patient to set the external charger's maximum temperature. The user interface can be used to select either constant maximum temperatures, or can allow the user to choose from a number of stored charging programs, which programs can control the maximum temperature to vary over time. Alternatively, a charging program in the external charger can vary the maximum temperature set point automatically. By controlling the maximum temperature of the external charger during charging in these manners, the time needed to charge can be minimized while still ensuring a temperature that is comfortable for that patient.