Implantable Device Capacitor Mode Control for Energy Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active implantable medical devices often face insufficient charge conditions, preventing them from delivering the programmed electrical stimulation to patients, due to hardware constraints like battery limitations, leading to suboptimal stimulation delivery and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
The device detects insufficient charge conditions and adjusts power-control parameters, such as increasing the number of capacitors or decreasing stimulation settings, to ensure delivery of stimulation as close to programmed settings as possible while minimizing energy usage, prioritizing maintenance of programmed settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device increases the number of capacitors to deliver programmed stimulation amplitude, then the stimulation delivery reliability improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically adjusts the capacitor mode parameter in response to detected insufficient charge conditions. When insufficient charge is detected, the system increases the capacitor mode parameter to restore adequate charge capacity for stimulation delivery. This dynamic adaptation ensures reliable stimulation delivery while optimizing energy consumption based on actual device conditions and charge availability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the device decreases the stimulation amplitude to match available charge, then the energy consumption decreases, but the stimulation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device continuously monitors charge availability and compares it against the programmed stimulation requirements. When insufficient charge conditions are detected, the system provides feedback by adjusting the capacitor mode parameter or stimulation parameters to match available charge capacity. This feedback mechanism ensures the device operates within its charge limits while maintaining stimulation effectiveness as close to programmed settings as possible.
3Loss of energy
If the device frequently adjusts parameters to optimize charge conditions, then the energy efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device autonomously monitors its own charge status and automatically adjusts the capacitor mode parameter or stimulation parameters without external intervention. The control algorithm self-regulates by detecting insufficient charge conditions and applying appropriate corrections, eliminating the need for complex external monitoring and control systems while maintaining high energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for automatically adjusting the value of a parameter defined to manage and control the resources recruited by an implantable medical device to supply power or the device to deliver an instance of an electrical stimulation therapy to a patient. In embodiments, the parameter corresponds to a number of capacitors the discharge of which supplies the power to deliver a stimulation therapy at a programmed amplitude. Whenever the circumstances prevent the programmed amplitude from being delivered, the system and method automatically adjust the resource-controlling parameter to use the minimum power to achieve the desired (programmed) amplitude or as close as possible to that programmed amplitude. Some embodiments additionally include using another parameter (a equivalent amplitude parameter) to balance the charge delivered through multiple pathways in parallel sourced from a single reservoir of power.