Ex Vivo Antenna Array for Deep Implant Wireless Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless power transfer systems for implanted devices face inefficiencies due to power attenuation through body tissues, leading to poor power transfer efficiency and excessive energy absorption by the body, which is limited by health and regulatory constraints.
Innovation Solution
The use of an ex-vivo antenna system with a primary antenna loop and parasitic antenna loops to form a focused wireless power transmission pattern, minimizing power absorption by the body while maximizing power transfer to the implanted device through constructive interference and a matching network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If transmit power of the ex-vivo antenna is increased to compensate for power attenuation through body tissues, then power transfer efficiency to deep implanted devices is improved, but the specific absorption rate of the body increases beyond health and regulatory limits
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into multiple parasitic antenna elements arranged in an array, where each element contributes to the overall focused power transmission. This segmentation allows the system to achieve better directional control and focusing without requiring excessive total transmit power, thereby improving power transfer efficiency while controlling specific absorption rate within safety limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system creates a localized concentrated power transmission path from the ex-vivo antenna array through the body tissues to the specific implanted device location. By concentrating the power transmission in a focused beam rather than omnidirectional radiation, the system improves power transfer efficiency to the target device while limiting the specific absorption rate in surrounding healthy tissues.
2Device complexity
If a single ex-vivo antenna is used for wireless power transfer, then the system complexity is low, but the power transfer efficiency to deep implanted devices is poor due to signal attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into multiple parasitic antenna elements arranged in an array, where each element contributes to the overall focused power transmission. This segmentation allows the system to achieve better directional control and focusing without requiring excessive total transmit power, thereby improving power transfer efficiency while controlling specific absorption rate within safety limits.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple parasitic antenna elements are combined in a coordinated array configuration, where each element is driven at a specific phase and amplitude to create constructive interference in the direction of the implanted device. This merging of multiple antenna elements produces a focused power transmission beam that overcomes tissue attenuation, achieving high power transfer efficiency without excessive complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If wireless power signals are transmitted through multiple layers of body tissue to reach deep implanted devices, then the implanted device can be positioned deeply within the body, but the power signals become increasingly attenuated resulting in poor power transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system creates a localized concentrated power transmission path from the ex-vivo antenna array through the body tissues to the specific implanted device location. By concentrating the power transmission in a focused beam rather than omnidirectional radiation, the system improves power transfer efficiency to the target device while limiting the specific absorption rate in surrounding healthy tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna array is configured in advance with specific phase and amplitude settings for each parasitic element based on the known or estimated location of the implanted device. This preliminary configuration creates a pre-focused power transmission path that compensates for the attenuation that will occur through the intervening tissue layers, ensuring efficient power delivery to deeply implanted devices.
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 enhances power transfer efficiency to implanted devices at various depths while reducing the specific absorption rate, ensuring compliance with health regulations by minimizing power absorbed by the body.
Implementation Method 1
The primary antenna loop receives power from a power source and radiates the power toward the implanted device
Implementation Method 2
The at least one parasitic antenna loop absorbs a portion of the radiated power and reradiates the absorbed power toward the implanted device
Implementation Method 3
The primary antenna loop and plurality of parasitic antenna loops form a constructive interference pattern that focuses the radiated power as it travels toward the implanted device
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to systems for providing wireless power to implanted devices. Consistent with some embodiments, an antenna system for providing wireless power to an implanted device includes a primary antenna loop and at least one parasitic antenna loop. The primary antenna loop is configured to receive power from a power source and radiate the power toward the implanted device. The at least one parasitic antenna loop is configured to absorb a portion of the radiated power and to reradiate the absorbed power toward the implanted device. The power radiated by the primary antenna loop and the power reradiated by the at least one parasitic antenna loop form a wireless power transmission pattern broadly distributed at the surface of the individual's skin and becomes more focused as it travels into the individual's body toward the implanted device. The broad distribution pattern at the surface of the skin reduces the specific absorption rate of the transmission while focusing the transmission as it toward the implanted device improves the antenna system's transfer efficiency.