Intra-Body Implant Communication Without a Dedicated Hub
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems for implantable medical devices are inefficient in terms of energy consumption and require complex implementations, with dedicated devices acting as hubs leading to potential failures and communication disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A communication system utilizing a common signaling technique for intra-body and external device communication, minimizing energy consumption and complexity by using modulated oscillating electrical, acoustic, or magnetic fields, and enabling direct communication between implantable medical devices and external devices without the need for a hub.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated implantable medical device serves as a hub to provide communication link to external device, then communication between implantable devices and external devices is enabled, but energy consumption increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling each implantable medical device to perform both intra-body communication and external communication functions directly, eliminating the need for a dedicated hub device. Each device is designed with dual communication capabilities, allowing it to act as both a regular implantable device and a communication node, thereby reducing overall system energy consumption and complexity while maintaining versatile communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the hub functionality from the system architecture and distributes it across all implantable devices. Instead of concentrating communication management in a single dedicated device, each implantable device is equipped with the necessary communication circuitry to establish direct links with external devices, removing the energy burden and complexity from a single hub while preserving comprehensive communication capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated implantable medical device serves as a hub to provide communication link to external device, then communication between implantable devices and external devices is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling each implantable medical device to perform both intra-body communication and external communication functions directly, eliminating the need for a dedicated hub device. Each device is designed with dual communication capabilities, allowing it to act as both a regular implantable device and a communication node, thereby reducing overall system energy consumption and complexity while maintaining versatile communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication functionality across multiple independent implantable devices rather than concentrating it in a single hub. This distribution of communication responsibilities reduces the complexity burden on any single device and simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for a specialized hub component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated implantable medical device serves as a hub, then communication link to external device is provided, but reliability decreases due to potential hub failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication functionality across multiple independent implantable devices rather than concentrating it in a single hub. This distribution of communication responsibilities reduces the complexity burden on any single device and simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for a specialized hub component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements redundancy by enabling multiple implantable devices to independently establish communication links with external devices. This beforehand cushioning ensures that if one device fails, communication capability is preserved through other devices, thereby enhancing system reliability without requiring a dedicated hub that would be a single point of failure.
4Use of energy by moving object
If common signaling technique is used for intra-body and external communication, then energy consumption is minimized and system simplicity is enhanced, but communication protocol compatibility challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adapting the common signaling technique to accommodate different communication requirements. The system modifies transmission parameters such as signal strength, modulation schemes, and data rates depending on whether communication is intra-body or external, thereby maintaining energy efficiency through a unified approach while ensuring protocol compatibility across different communication scenarios.
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 ensures reliable, power-efficient communication among implantable medical devices and with external devices, reducing the risk of failure and enhancing system simplicity, while supporting small and low-energy devices.
Implementation Method 1
A communication system utilizing a common signaling technique for intra-body and external device communication, minimizing energy consumption and complexity by using modulated oscillating electrical, acoustic, or magnetic fields
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A communication system for establishing an intra-body communication comprises a multiplicity of implantable medical devices (1-3), each of the multiplicity of implantable medical devices (1-3) comprising communication circuitry (13, 23) for communicating with another of the multiplicity of implantable medical devices (1-3) using a first signaling technique. At least one external device (4, 5) comprises first communication circuitry (41) for communicating with the multiplicity of implantable medical devices (1-3) using said first signaling technique and second communication circuitry (42) for communicating with a remote system (6) using a second signaling technique different than the first signaling technique.