Implant Wireless Charging Alignment With Closed-Loop Field Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless charging systems for implantable devices face inefficiencies and potential damage due to improper alignment and excessive electromagnetic field strength, leading to energy waste and overheating.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop system using an implantable device's electrical parameters to estimate and control the electromagnetic field strength, ensuring proper alignment and efficient charging by adjusting the wireless charger's field driver to match target EM field values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional wireless charging systems use fixed EM field strength for charging implantable devices, then charging can be provided, but energy waste and overheating occur due to improper alignment and excessive field strength
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the implantable device measures the actual EM field strength it experiences and communicates this information back to the wireless charger. The charger then adjusts its output field strength based on this feedback to match the target value, preventing both energy waste from excessive fields and undercharging from insufficient fields. This closed-loop control resolves the contradiction by dynamically optimizing energy transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static, fixed EM field strength approach to a dynamic adjustment mechanism. The wireless charger continuously modifies its output field strength based on real-time feedback from the implantable device, allowing the system to adapt to varying alignment conditions and maintain optimal charging efficiency throughout the charging process.
2Temperature
If conventional wireless charging systems use fixed EM field strength, then charging can be provided, but overheating occurs due to excessive field strength
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism enables the system to monitor the actual EM field strength received by the implantable device and adjust the charger's output accordingly. By preventing excessive field strength application, the system avoids the overheating that would occur with fixed high-power output, while still maintaining sufficient power delivery for effective charging through dynamic optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the EM field strength parameter based on real-time conditions and feedback. Instead of maintaining a fixed high-power setting that causes overheating, the system adjusts the field strength to match the actual needs of the implantable device, thereby controlling temperature while maintaining adequate charging power.
3Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to measure EM field strength at the implantable device, then field strength can be precisely controlled, but device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device utilizes its existing electrical components and measurements for multiple purposes. The device's standard electrical measurements, already taken for charging operations, are repurposed to estimate EM field strength through computational modeling. This eliminates the need for dedicated field sensing hardware, maintaining measurement precision while avoiding increased device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces physical field sensing hardware with a computational approach. Instead of using additional sensors to directly measure EM field strength, the system uses electrical models and existing electrical measurements to computationally estimate the field strength. This substitution of physical measurement with computational analysis achieves the same precision without adding device volume.
4Volume of moving object
If computational approach is used to estimate EM field strength, then device footprint is minimized, but measurement precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces physical field sensing hardware with a computational approach. Instead of using additional sensors to directly measure EM field strength, the system uses electrical models and existing electrical measurements to computationally estimate the field strength. This substitution of physical measurement with computational analysis achieves the same precision without adding device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a computational model that replicates the relationship between EM field strength and electrical measurements. By developing an accurate electrical model of the implantable device, the system can infer field strength from standard electrical measurements, effectively copying the information that would be provided by physical sensors without the associated hardware overhead.
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 conserves energy, prevents overheating, and maintains a compact device footprint by optimizing electromagnetic field strength for efficient charging without additional sensors, thus reducing energy waste and heat buildup.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless charger including a communication device, an EM field driver, and a controller
Implementation Method 2
a field estimator to estimate a present or an estimated EM field value and a target EM field value or intensity
Data Source
AI summary
A system for wirelessly charging an implantable device is described. The system may include an estimation device or component that estimates a field strength at a receiving coil of the implantable device based on available electrical signals within the implantable device. The system may also include a control system for varying a strength of a charging field produced by a charger. The system may also be used to align a wireless charger with the implantable device for charging a battery of the implantable device. Methods and devices for implementing the charging system are also described.