External Charger for Multiple Implants via Dynamic Field Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Simultaneously charging multiple implantable medical devices poses challenges in optimizing charging conditions to ensure fast charging without overheating, as the same magnetic charging field affects devices differently due to varying coupling factors and placements within the patient.
Innovation Solution
An improved external charger uses simulation data to model power dissipation and determine optimal duty cycles for each implant, designating 'hot' and 'cold' implants based on reported voltage parameters to adjust the magnetic charging field intensity and duty cycle, ensuring safe and efficient charging across all devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a strong magnetic charging field is applied to charge multiple implants simultaneously, then charging speed is improved, but tissue heating and power dissipation increase causing safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The external charger dynamically adjusts the intensity of the magnetic charging field based on real-time feedback about implant coupling factors. The system transitions from a static, fixed-intensity charging approach to a dynamic, adaptive approach where charging parameters are continuously modified to match the specific conditions of each implant, thereby achieving fast charging without excessive heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the intensity parameter of the magnetic charging field according to the coupling factor of each implant. By adjusting this critical parameter individually for each implant based on its position and tissue characteristics, the system optimizes charging speed while keeping power dissipation and heating within safe limits.
2Reliability
If the magnetic charging field intensity is increased to charge distant or weakly-coupled implants, then charging completeness is improved, but power dissipation and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different charging intensities to different implants based on their individual coupling factors. Rather than using a uniform high intensity for all implants, the external charger tailors the magnetic field intensity to match each implant's specific requirements, ensuring complete charging while minimizing unnecessary power dissipation in weakly-coupled or distant implants.
Solution Approach 2:
The external charger modifies the magnetic charging field intensity parameter according to the coupling factor of each implant. This parameter adjustment ensures that sufficient power is delivered to weakly-coupled implants for complete charging, while avoiding excessive power dissipation by not applying maximum intensity to all implants uniformly.
3Device complexity
If uniform charging parameters are applied to all implants, then device complexity is reduced, but charging optimization is lost due to varying coupling factors and placements
Solution Approach 1:
The external charger incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the charging status and coupling conditions of each implant. Based on this feedback about actual charging performance and tissue temperature, the system automatically adjusts charging parameters to optimize efficiency while managing complexity through automated control rather than manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system performs self-optimization by automatically detecting implant coupling factors and adjusting charging parameters accordingly. This self-service capability allows the system to handle the complexity of varying implant conditions autonomously, improving charging efficiency without requiring complex manual control or reducing overall system simplicity.
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 allows for simultaneous charging of multiple implants while maintaining safe tissue temperatures, optimizing charging speed and reducing heat dissipation, ensuring quick and efficient battery replenishment without risking tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
An external charger for charging a rechargeable battery within an implantable medical device (implant), and techniques for simultaneously charging batteries in multiple implants using such improved external charger, are disclosed. The coil 147 is configured to receive and/or emit a magnetic field that is used to communicate with, or receive power from, one or more external devices
Data Source
AI summary
An external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device (implant), and technique for charging batteries in multiple implants using such improved external charger, is disclosed. During charging, values for a parameter measured in the implants are reported from the implants to the external charger. The external charger infers from the magnitudes of the parameters which of the implants has the highest (hot) and lowest (cold) coupling to the external charger. The intensity of the magnetic charging field is optimized for the cold implant to ensure that it is charged with a maximum (fastest) battery charging current. The duty cycle of the magnetic charging field is also optimized for the hot implant to ensure that it does not exceed a power dissipation limit. As a result, charging is optimized to be fast for all of the implants, while still safe from a tissue heating perspective.