Implanted LVAD Battery Conditioning With TETS Coordination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fully implanted left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) face challenges in performing battery conditioning due to user interactions and communication complexities within the transcutaneous energy transfer (TETS) system.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of automated and semi-automated mechanisms that coordinate battery conditioning between the internal controller, external power transmitter, and patient, including processing circuitry to manage TETS power transfer, misalignment alarms, and scheduling of conditioning cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated battery conditioning is implemented in fully implanted LVADs, then battery performance and longevity are optimized, but user interaction complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated battery conditioning where the internal controller autonomously performs conditioning cycles based on algorithms that monitor battery state, eliminating the need for manual user intervention while optimizing battery performance and longevity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements bidirectional communication between the internal controller and external device, with the internal controller providing feedback on battery state and receiving conditioning commands, enabling automated optimization while maintaining simple user interaction through the external device interface
2Measurement precision
If TETS power transfer is discontinued during conditioning, then battery conditioning accuracy is improved, but power supply reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of the internal battery through TETS power transfer before discontinuing it for conditioning, ensuring the battery has sufficient charge to complete the conditioning cycle without interrupting the patient's power supply
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic conditioning cycles where TETS power transfer is temporarily suspended for brief conditioning intervals and then resumed, allowing accurate battery state assessment while maintaining overall power supply continuity through periodic reconnection
3Ease of operation
If misalignment alarms are turned off during conditioning, then false alarms are eliminated, but detection of actual misalignment issues is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts alarm behavior based on operational context, suppressing misalignment alarms specifically during battery conditioning when they would be false positives, while maintaining full alarm functionality during normal operation to detect actual misalignment issues
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm system is segmented into different operational modes, with misalignment detection enabled during normal power transfer and disabled during conditioning cycles, allowing the system to eliminate false alarms without compromising overall detection capability
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 efficient and reliable battery conditioning in fully implanted LVADs, ensuring optimal battery performance and longevity while simplifying the process for both the device and the patient.
Implementation Method 1
power is supplied from the external power transmitter 21 to the i-controller 14 via mutual coupling of the coils 18 and 20, in order to charge the internal battery 15 of the i-controller 14 and to power the LVAD pump 12. The coils 18 and 20 transfer power via electromagnetic energy over the air and through the body.
Data Source
AI summary
In an implanted medical device system, an internal controller, external power transmitter and methods for performing battery conditioning are disclosed. According to one aspect, an internal controller includes processing circuitry configured to cause conditioning of an internal battery of the internal controller responsive to a direction from an external power transmitter in radio communication with the internal controller.