Defibrillator Battery Charging Control for Voltage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing defibrillators face issues with inaccurate estimation of remaining battery level, leading to potential operational failures and prolonged charging times when the battery is depleted, which is critical for treating ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
Innovation Solution
A defibrillator with a controller that divides charging into pre-charging and additional charging, using a voltage analyzer to measure battery output voltage during pre-charging, and adjusts the charging rate based on this measurement to optimize energy storage in the capacitor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the capacitor is charged by the battery when the battery is depleted, then the defibrillation energy can be stored, but the output voltage of the battery drops significantly causing operational failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary estimation of the remaining battery level by measuring battery voltage before attempting to charge the capacitor. This preliminary action allows the control unit to determine whether the battery has sufficient capacity to complete the charging process without causing voltage drop that would lead to operational failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors battery voltage during the charging process and adjusts the charging current accordingly. When voltage drop is detected, the system reduces or stops charging current to prevent the battery voltage from falling below the threshold required for proper operation of electronic components.
2Power
If the current value from the battery during capacitor charging is limited, then the output voltage decrease is suppressed, but the charging time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The charging current is dynamically adjusted based on real-time battery voltage measurements. The control unit increases charging current when battery voltage is stable and sufficient, and reduces or stops current when voltage drop is detected. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve fast charging when possible while preventing voltage collapse.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging parameter (current value) based on the battery's state of charge and voltage characteristics. By monitoring voltage during charging and adjusting current accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between charging speed and voltage stability.
3Ease of operation
If the battery voltage in the no-load state is measured to estimate the remaining battery level, then the estimation can be performed, but the estimated value does not coincide with the actual remaining battery level
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying solely on no-load voltage measurement, the system performs preliminary charging at a controlled current and then measures the voltage under load conditions. This preliminary action provides more accurate information about the battery's actual capacity and state of charge.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from voltage measurements during actual charging operations to refine the estimation of remaining battery level. By comparing expected voltage drop with actual voltage drop during charging, the control unit can more accurately determine the battery's state of charge.
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
Accurate estimation of remaining battery level allows efficient charging, preventing operational failures and reducing charging time, ensuring timely treatment of cardiac conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a battery
Implementation Method 2
a capacitor that stores defibrillation energy
Data Source
AI summary
A defibrillator of the present disclosure includes: a battery; a capacitor that stores defibrillation energy; a controller that is configured to control charging of the capacitor by the battery; and a voltage analyzer that measures an output voltage of the battery when the capacitor is charged by the battery. The controller is configured to control the charging of the capacitor by the battery such that the charging of the capacitor by the battery is divided into at least pre-charging and additional charging subsequent to the pre-charging, and the controller is further configured to control, based on the output voltage of the battery measured by the voltage analyzer during the pre-charging, a charging rate during the additional charging.