High Surface Area Electrode for In-Body Power Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for smaller, reliable power sources for implantable and ingestible medical devices that can operate within the body while maintaining functionality and emitting a detectable signal upon contact with a physiological site.
Innovation Solution
The development of in-body power sources featuring a solid support with a high surface area electrode and a second electrode, which generate a voltage upon contact with bodily fluids, enabling the emission of a detectable signal, such as RF or magnetic signals, to facilitate communication and functionality within the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the size of the power source is reduced to enable smaller implantable and ingestible devices, then the device size decreases and ease of use improves, but the power output and reliability of the power source deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous electrodes with high surface area to volume ratio. The porous structure provides numerous active sites for electrochemical reactions, enabling sufficient power output from a compact volume. The porosity allows efficient ion transport through the electrolyte while maintaining a small overall device size suitable for implantable and ingestible applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters including electrode surface area, porosity, electrolyte composition, and electrode material properties to achieve high power density in a miniaturized format. By carefully controlling these parameters, the power source maintains reliable performance despite the reduced size required for in-body device applications.
2Power
If the electrode surface area is increased to improve power output, then the power generation capability increases, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous electrodes that provide extremely high surface area within a compact volume. The three-dimensional porous network allows the electrode to achieve large effective surface area for electrochemical reactions without proportionally increasing the device's external dimensions. This enables high power output from a miniaturized power source suitable for implantable and ingestible devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar electrodes to three-dimensional porous structures. This dimensional change allows the electrode to pack significantly more active surface area into the same footprint, thereby increasing power generation capability without a proportional increase in device volume. The vertical porosity provides additional reaction sites that are inaccessible to flat electrodes.
3Volume of moving object
If miniaturized power sources are used to reduce device size, then the ease of implantation and ingestion improves, but the ability to emit detectable signals and maintain functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the electrochemical parameters including electrode material composition, porosity, and electrolyte formulation to maximize power density and signal generation efficiency in the miniaturized device. These parameter adjustments ensure that even at reduced scale, the device can generate sufficient electrical signals for reliable external detection and maintain full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous electrode structure provides high surface area for both power generation and signal emission. The extensive porous network ensures adequate electrochemical activity to generate detectable signals despite the small overall device size. The porosity facilitates efficient ion transport and electron transfer, maintaining signal strength necessary for external detection in implantable and ingestible configurations.
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
These power sources enable efficient and reliable operation of in-body devices by providing a means to generate power through electrochemical reactions with bodily fluids, allowing for the emission of signals that can be detected externally, thus enhancing the functionality and monitoring capabilities of implantable and ingestible medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
generate a voltage upon contact with bodily fluids
Data Source
AI summary
Power sources that enable in-body devices, such as implantable and ingestible devices, are provided. Aspects of the in-body power sources of the invention include a solid support, a first high surface area electrode and a second electrode. Embodiments of the in-power sources are configured to emit a detectable signal upon contact with a target physiological site. Also provided are methods of making and using the power sources of the invention.