Implantable Battery Pack Thermal Wing Layout for Fast Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless power transfer systems for ventricular assist devices face challenges in effectively managing heat generated by lithium ion battery cells and electronics, which can lead to elevated surface temperatures and potential device malfunction.

Innovation Solution

An implantable battery pack design featuring a housing with battery cells and an electronics layout that includes printed circuit boards and thermally conductive wings to spread heat generated by the electronics, combined with graphite foils for enhanced heat dissipation, ensuring uniform heat distribution across the outer surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If lithium ion battery cells are used for fast charging in the implantable battery pack, then charging speed is improved, but heat generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidheat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A thermally conductive wing is introduced as an intermediary component between the heat-generating electronics and the battery pack housing. This wing acts as a thermal mediator that intercepts heat from the electronics and redirects it to the housing, preventing heat accumulation at critical locations while enabling fast charging operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces passive thermal management (relying on natural heat dissipation) with an active thermal conduction system using the thermally conductive wing. This substitution enables controlled heat redistribution, allowing the system to handle the thermal load from fast charging lithium ion battery cells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Volume of moving object

If electronics are positioned close to battery cells for compact design, then device size is reduced, but heat management becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery pack sizeVSAvoidheat management

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The thermally conductive wing serves as a thermal intermediary that bridges the gap between compactly positioned electronics and the housing. Even in close proximity arrangements, the wing intercepts and redirects heat before it can affect the battery cells, enabling compact design without compromising thermal management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local thermal management by positioning the thermally conductive wing specifically at locations where heat generation is most intense. This localized approach allows compact electronics placement while providing targeted heat redirection where needed most

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If heat is concentrated in specific areas for efficient dissipation, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but hot spots are created on the outer surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidhot spots on outer surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The thermally conductive wing creates localized high heat flux paths from the electronics to the housing, improving heat transfer efficiency at the source. Simultaneously, the housing's outer surface area distributes this heat over a larger region, preventing hot spots. The wing's local thermal conduction combined with the housing's distributed surface area resolves the contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively reduces hot spots on the outer surface of the battery pack, maintaining acceptable temperatures and enabling faster charging of lithium ion cells while ensuring the implantable device operates within safe thermal limits.

Implementation Method 1

at least one thermally conductive wing coupled to and extending from the at least one printed circuit board, the at least one thermally conductive wing operable to spread heat generated by the electronics throughout the implantable battery pack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20240063462A1Systems and methods for heat management in wireless power transfer systems

Publication Date: 2024.02.22 TC1 LLC

AI summary

An implantable battery pack is provided. The implantable battery pack includes a housing, a plurality of battery cells positioned within the housing, and an electronics layout positioned within the housing, the electronics layout electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells. The electronics layout includes at least one printed circuit board including electronics mounted thereon, and at least one thermally conductive wing coupled to and extending from the at least one printed circuit board, the at least one thermally conductive wing operable to spread heat generated by the electronics throughout the implantable battery pack.