Implant Recharge Alignment Detection for Thermal-Aware Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Implantable medical devices face inefficiencies in power transfer during recharging, leading to increased thermal responses and discomfort due to inefficient positioning of power transmitting and receiving units, which can result in excessive heat and tissue damage.

Innovation Solution

A system that calculates energy transfer efficiency and adjusts power delivery based on detected positioning, using processing circuitry to compute target output power, update adjustment factors, and apply these to heat limits to optimize energy transfer and minimize thermal dose.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless power transfer is used to recharge implantable medical devices, then convenience and patient comfort are improved, but thermal response and energy transfer efficiency deteriorate due to positioning issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of rechargingVSAvoidthermal response

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors energy transfer efficiency during wireless charging and uses this feedback to detect misalignment between transmitting and receiving coils. When inefficiency is detected, the system provides real-time guidance to the user to reposition the external charging device, thereby optimizing the magnetic coupling and reducing thermal response while maintaining the convenience of wireless charging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts charging parameters based on detected positioning efficiency. When misalignment is detected, the system modifies power delivery levels and charging duration to compensate for reduced coupling efficiency, thereby managing thermal response while maintaining effective recharging of the implantable device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If higher power levels are used during wireless charging, then recharge time is reduced, but thermal response and risk of tissue damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecharge timeVSAvoidtissue damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes power delivery parameters based on real-time monitoring of energy transfer efficiency and thermal conditions. When optimal positioning is detected, the system delivers higher power levels to reduce recharge time. When misalignment or excessive temperature is detected, the system automatically reduces power levels to prevent tissue damage, thereby safely optimizing the charging process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If misalignment between power transmitting and receiving units occurs, then energy transfer efficiency decreases, but the system continues charging without user intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging continuityVSAvoidenergy transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects positioning issues through efficiency monitoring and provides self-correcting guidance to the user without requiring manual intervention or system shutdown. This enables the system to maintain optimal performance through user-guided repositioning while preserving charging continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 reduces thermal responses and recharge time by dynamically adjusting power levels, ensuring safer and more efficient charging sessions for implantable medical devices.

Implementation Method 1

a power transmitting unit configured to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic energy to a power receiving unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

transmitting the energy through the tissue may result in an applied thermal dose, which may be caused by the energy heating the tissue, or heating the implanted device that in turn heats the surrounding tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS12003120B2Implant location detection and adaptive temperature control

Publication Date: 2024.06.04 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

Devices, systems, and techniques are described to detect when a power transmitting and receiving system is in an inefficient position, which may cause a thermal response that less desirable than a more efficient position. The system may power transmitting device configured to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic energy to a power receiving device. Processing circuitry of the system may compute a target output power deliverable by the power transmitting device for a first duration and control the power transmitting device to output the target output power based in part on a heat limit. The processing circuitry may further calculate an energy transfer efficiency to the power receiving unit, update an adjustment factor based on the calculated energy transfer efficiency, and apply the adjustment factor to the heat limit for a subsequent duration.