Inductive Coupling for Body Fluid Retention Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting excessive body fluid retention in patients with heart failure lack reliability and require additional hardware, making them complex and inefficient for real-time monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A system using inductive coupling with a magnetic-field transducer and circuitry to generate a time-varying magnetic field for powering an electronic device inside the body, estimating fluid retention by measuring the intensity of the magnetic field, and combining this with blood pressure measurements to detect abnormalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electromagnetic signals are propagated via tissue between external and internal probes, then dielectric properties can be estimated, but the system requires additional hardware and becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of dielectric property measurement and electronic device powering into a single magnetic field system. The external magnet generates a magnetic field that both enables wireless power transfer to the implantable electronic device and allows fluid retention assessment through field intensity measurement, eliminating the need for separate RF probes and circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides wireless power transmission to the implantable device, enables fluid retention monitoring through intensity measurement, and communicates with the external system. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining measurement capabilities.
2Reliability
If multiple probes and circuits are used for fluid retention detection, then measurement capability is achieved, but the system becomes inefficient for real-time monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges fluid retention detection with the existing wireless power transfer infrastructure. The same magnetic field used for power transmission is also used for fluid retention assessment, allowing simultaneous operation without additional hardware that would slow down real-time monitoring.
3Power
If separate systems are used for power transmission and fluid retention assessment, then each function can be optimized, but overall system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field system is designed to perform both wireless power transmission and fluid retention assessment functions. The external magnet and implantable coil combination serves as both the power transfer medium and the sensing mechanism, creating a universal system that reduces architectural complexity.
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
Enables reliable and sensitive detection of fluid retention and blood pressure abnormalities, reducing the need for additional hardware and simplifying the monitoring process, thus improving the management of heart failure.
Implementation Method 1
circuitry is configured to generate and apply to the magnetic-field transducer a time-varying signal, so as to generate a time-varying magnetic field outside the body of the patient, for supplying electrical energy by inductive coupling to an electronic device that is positioned inside the body
Implementation Method 2
to estimate an intensity of the magnetic field that reaches the electronic device, and to assess fluid retention in an organ of the patient based on the estimated intensity of the magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a magnetic-field transducer, and circuitry. The magnetic-field transducer is configured to be coupled externally to a body of a patient. The circuitry is configured to generate and apply to the magnetic-field transducer a time-varying signal, so as to generate a time-varying magnetic field outside the body of the patient, for supplying electrical energy by inductive coupling to an electronic device that is positioned inside the body, to estimate an intensity of the magnetic field that reaches the electronic device, and to assess fluid retention in an organ of the patient based on the estimated intensity of the magnetic field.