Cochlear Implant Power Management Unit for Battery Lifetime Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cochlear implant systems face inefficiencies in power management, leading to unnecessary heat generation and reduced battery lifetime due to excess power transmission to the implantable unit, which is not utilized for stimulation.
Innovation Solution
A power management unit within the cochlear implant system determines the stimulation power consumption based on various factors, including the type of transceivers, battery capacity, and coding strategy, and adjusts the target output power to match the required power consumption, optimizing power transmission through a power tuning function that considers skin thickness and other variables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If power is transmitted to the implantable unit via transcutaneous link, then the implantable unit receives sufficient power for stimulation, but excess power results in heat generation and reduced battery lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The power management unit continuously monitors the power consumption of the implantable unit and adjusts the target output power of the external unit accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the transmitted power matches the actual power needs of the implantable unit, preventing both power deficiency and excessive power transmission that would waste battery energy
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the target output power based on varying power consumption conditions of the implantable unit. The power management unit modifies transmission parameters in real-time according to the determined power consumption stage, making the power transmission adaptive rather than static, thereby optimizing battery utilization
2Reliability
If target output power is increased to ensure sufficient power delivery, then power reliability improves, but power loss increases and battery lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management unit uses feedback from power consumption monitoring to precisely control the target output power. This ensures that the power delivery is reliable and sufficient for the implantable unit's needs without being excessively high, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing power loss and battery drain
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the target output power parameter dynamically based on the determined power consumption stage. By adjusting this key parameter according to actual needs rather than using a fixed high value, the system maintains reliable power delivery while reducing unnecessary power loss
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 approach results in a power-optimized cochlear implant system that minimizes unwanted battery lifetime reduction by precisely estimating and delivering the necessary power, thereby extending battery life and ensuring proper device function.
Implementation Method 1
an external unit includes at least a first inductive transceiver configured to transmit power via a transcutaneous link
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A cochlear implant system is disclosed. The system includes a power management unit that is configured to determine a stimulation power consumption of the implantable unit for providing the plurality of stimulation pulses of the stimulation frame to the auditory nerve fibers of the recipient. The determine of the stimulation power consumption of the implantable unit may be based on the plurality of stimulation pulses determined by the external unit, and more specifically, determined by a sound processor arranged within the external unit and/or the implantable unit. The plurality of stimulation pulses may be communicated to the power management unit. Furthermore, the power management unit may be configured to determine a power consumption stage of the implantable unit.