Implant Charging Thermal Dose Tracking Across Interruptions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for monitoring thermal impact during charging of implantable medical devices (IMDs) are inadequate, failing to account for real-world interruptions and variations, leading to potential tissue overheating and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A control system that determines a patient's tissue temperature and calculates a cumulative thermal dose, continuing its calculation after interruptions if predefined conditions are met, allowing for precise adjustment of the charging process to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional CEM43 monitoring is used during charging, then thermal impact can be tracked, but the monitoring fails to account for interruptions and variations in real-world charging scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the thermal dose calculation based on charging state. When charging is interrupted and later resumed, the system determines whether to continue or reset the cumulative thermal dose calculation based on predefined conditions (time span since interruption and temperature limits), making the monitoring adaptable to real-world charging variations rather than assuming continuous ideal charging
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the calculation parameters of cumulative thermal dose based on charging interruption conditions. If the time span exceeds a time limit or temperature drops below a temperature limit upon resumption, the system resets the cumulative thermal dose to zero; otherwise, it continues the calculation, thereby adapting the monitoring accuracy to actual charging scenarios
2Adaptability or versatility
If charging process is interrupted and resumed, then flexibility is improved, but cumulative thermal dose calculation may become inaccurate without proper reset conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the calculation parameters by comparing the time span since interruption and current temperature against predefined limits. Based on this comparison, the control unit either continues the cumulative thermal dose calculation or resets it to zero, ensuring measurement precision is maintained while allowing charging process flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses feedback from temperature sensors and timing information to determine whether to continue or reset the thermal dose calculation. This feedback mechanism ensures that the thermal monitoring remains accurate despite charging interruptions and resumptions
3Reliability
If cumulative thermal dose is continuously monitored without reset, then thermal safety is improved, but false alarms occur after legitimate interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the state of the cumulative thermal dose calculation parameter based on interruption analysis. When predefined conditions are met (time span exceeds limit or temperature drops below limit), the system resets the cumulative thermal dose to zero, preventing false alarms while maintaining thermal safety monitoring during legitimate charging interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the thermal dose calculation state based on real-time charging conditions. By evaluating time span and temperature parameters, the system determines whether to continue or reset the cumulative calculation, thereby distinguishing between temporary interruptions and genuine thermal hazards
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
The system ensures accurate monitoring of thermal load during IMD charging, reducing patient discomfort and health risks by adjusting charging power based on cumulative thermal dose, even with unintended interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
eddy currents are usually induced in metal parts of the IMD, such as an Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG), causing the metal parts, the IPG and/or the IMD to heat up
Implementation Method 2
eddy currents are usually induced in metal parts of the IMD, such as an Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG), causing the metal parts, the IPG and/or the IMD to heat up
Implementation Method 3
a control unit configured to determine a cumulative thermal dose of the patient based on the determined temperature
Implementation Method 4
Monitoring an amount of a heat impact or a temperature rise is important for ensuring a patient's health and safety
Data Source
AI summary
A control system (1) is used to control a charging process of an implantable medical device for a patient. The control system (1) includes a means for determining a temperature (10) of a tissue of a patient; and a control unit (20) configured to determine a cumulative thermal dose of the patient based on the determined temperature. The control unit (20) is configured to continue, after an interruption of the charging process and upon resumption of the charging process, the determination of the cumulative thermal dose based on one or more predefined conditions. The control unit (20) is configured to reset the determined cumulative thermal dose when a time span from interruption is greater than a time limit and/or when a measured temperature is lower than a temperature limit. A method and a corresponding computer program may also provide such control.