Medical Implant Wireless Power Transfer Across Variable Tissue Depths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless power transfer systems for medical implants face challenges due to variability in tissue depth among patients, requiring predetermined transfer distances and limited design flexibility, which is not suitable for medical applications.
Innovation Solution
A wirelessly powered medical implant system with an automatic gain controller, offset phase delay circuit, and source resonator that adjusts input power based on feedback signals with an offset phase delay, ensuring efficient power transfer via magnetic fields and reducing phase shift, while incorporating sensors to respond to stimuli and minimize heat exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If predetermined transfer distances are used in wireless power transfer systems, then system simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to varying tissue depths among patients deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the implant device transmits feedback signals to the external power source system. The automatic gain controller adjusts the input power based on these feedback signals with offset phase delay, enabling the system to adapt to varying tissue depths and coupling conditions without requiring complex manual tuning or multiple predetermined distance settings.
2Loss of energy
If automatic gain control with offset phase delay is implemented, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic gain controller operates autonomously to adjust input power based on feedback signals, eliminating the need for external manual tuning. The offset phase delay circuit automatically compensates for phase shifts in the feedback signal, and the system self-regulates to maintain optimal power transfer efficiency across varying coupling conditions without requiring complex external intervention.
3Power
If higher power is transmitted to compensate for varying distances, then power availability to implant is improved, but electromagnetic field exposure and temperature rise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the input power level based on real-time feedback from the implant device. The automatic gain controller continuously monitors the coupling conditions and tissue depth variations, adjusting the transmitted power accordingly. This dynamic adaptation ensures sufficient power delivery to the implant while avoiding excessive electromagnetic field exposure and temperature rise that would occur with fixed high-power transmission.
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 solution provides constant wireless power transfer efficiency across varying distances without external tuning, reduces electromagnetic field exposure and temperature rise, and minimizes the power source system's volume and weight, while also reducing implant charging time.
Implementation Method 1
a source resonator to generate, based on the output power, a magnetic field to transmit wireless power via the magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
an offset phase delay circuit to receive the feedback signal from the source resonator, generate the offset phase delay, and include the offset phase delay with the feedback signal
Implementation Method 3
an automatic gain controller to receive input power, automatically adjust the input power based on a feedback signal with an offset phase delay
Implementation Method 4
an implant resonator to receive the transmitted wireless power via the magnetic field, wherein the feedback signal is based on inductive coupling of the magnetic field between the source resonator and the implant resonator
Data Source
AI summary
A wirelessly powered medical implant system comprising: a power source system including: an automatic gain controller to receive input power, automatically adjust the input power based on a feedback signal with an offset phase delay, and provide the adjusted input power as output power; a source resonator to generate, based on the output power, a magnetic field to transmit wireless power via the magnetic field, and provide the feedback signal; and an offset phase delay circuit to receive the feedback signal from the source resonator, generate the offset phase delay, and include the offset phase delay with the feedback signal; and a medical implant including: an implant resonator to receive the transmitted wireless power via the magnetic field; and one or more sensors, wherein the feedback signal is based on inductive coupling of the magnetic field between the source resonator and the implant resonator.