Implantable Device Charging via Electric and Magnetic Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with implantable medical devices, such as spinal cord stimulation systems, face challenges in recharging their devices without requiring significant patient involvement, particularly for those who are physically impaired or unable to accurately align external chargers with the implantable pulse generator.
Innovation Solution
A base station that generates an electric field and a magnetic field to passively recharge the implantable device's battery without the need for patient manipulation, using either an E-field or B-field depending on distance and efficiency, allowing for automatic charging when the patient is within range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an external charger is used to recharge the implantable device, then the battery can be recharged, but the patient must manually align the charger with the implantable pulse generator which is difficult for physically impaired patients
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service charging by using the implantable device's own telemetry coil to generate the magnetic field for charging, eliminating the need for external manual alignment. The device automatically charges when the patient is within range of the base station, with the IPG's coil serving both telemetry and charging functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The telemetry coil in the implantable pulse generator is made multi-functional by using it for both data communication and battery charging. This universal approach allows the same component to perform multiple functions, eliminating the need for separate charging hardware that would require manual alignment.
2Productivity
If a base station with both E-field and B-field capabilities is used, then charging efficiency is optimized for different distances, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station dynamically switches between E-field and B-field charging modes based on the detected distance to the implantable device. The system adjusts the field type and power levels in real-time, using E-field for longer distances and B-field for closer, more efficient charging, thereby optimizing productivity across varying conditions.
3Power
If B-field charging is used for higher power transfer, then charging speed is improved, but the effective charging distance is limited compared to E-field
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary detection of the implantable device's location and distance before initiating charging. Based on this advance information, the system pre-selects the appropriate field type (E-field for distant, B-field for close) to optimize both power transfer and effective range, avoiding the limitations of using only one field type.
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
Enables efficient and automatic battery recharging of implantable medical devices, reducing the burden on patients and ensuring consistent power supply without the need for precise alignment or handling, with B-field charging preferred for higher power transfer and E-field charging used for longer distances.
Implementation Method 1
A base station that generates an electric field and a magnetic field to passively recharge the implantable device's battery
Implementation Method 2
A base station that generates an electric field and a magnetic field to passively recharge the implantable device's battery
Implementation Method 3
Two coils (more generally, antennas) are generally present in the IPG 100: a telemetry coil 13 used to transmit/receive data to/from an external controller 12; and a charging coil 18 for charging or recharging the IPG's battery 26 using an external charger 50
Data Source
AI summary
A base station for passively recharging a battery in an implant without patient involvement is disclosed. The base station can be hand held or may comprise equipment configured to be placed at a fixed location, such as under a bed, on or next to a wall, etc. The base station can generate electric and magnetic fields (E-field and B-field) that couple with an antenna and a receiving coil within the implant to generate a charging current for charging the implant's battery. No handling or manipulation on part of the patient is necessary; the implant battery is passively charged whenever the patient is within range of either the magnetic or electric charging fields generated by base station. Charging using the B-field occurs when the IPG is at a relatively short distance from the base station, while charging using the E-field occurs at longer distances.