Midfield Wireless Powering for Intravascular Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless powering methods for implantable electronics, such as nearfield and farfield coupling, face challenges including large power harvesting structures that are difficult to implant, limited miniaturization due to signal decay, and inefficient energy transfer.
Innovation Solution
The use of midfield powering technology, which allows for a smaller receiver antenna and simpler implant procedures, enabling better patient tolerance and comfort, and potentially lower manufacturing and implantation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If nearfield coupling is used for wireless powering, then power transfer is achieved, but the power harvesting structure becomes large and difficult to implant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from nearfield coupling to midfield coupling, changing the fundamental operating parameter (field region) of the wireless power transfer system. This parameter change enables the power harvesting structure to be significantly miniaturized while maintaining effective power transfer capability, resolving the contradiction between power transfer efficiency and device size.
2Loss of energy
If nearfield coupling is used for wireless powering, then power transfer is achieved, but the external coils become large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the operating region from nearfield to midfield coupling, the patent enables external coils to be miniaturized. The midfield coupling mechanism allows for more compact coil designs while maintaining effective power transfer, resolving the contradiction between power transfer efficiency and external coil dimensions.
3Loss of energy
If nearfield signals are used, then wireless power transfer is achieved, but miniaturization is limited beyond superficial depths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the signal propagation regime from nearfield to midfield, enabling effective power transfer to deeper implantation sites. This parameter change overcomes the exponential decay limitation of nearfield signals, allowing miniaturized devices to be implanted at greater depths while maintaining sufficient power transfer efficiency.
4Volume of moving object
If farfield signals are used for wireless powering, then power transfer to deep implants is achieved, but energy transfer efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from farfield to midfield coupling, optimizing the operating region for balanced performance. This parameter change achieves effective power transfer to deep implants while maintaining higher energy transfer efficiency compared to farfield signals, resolving the contradiction between implant depth capability and energy transfer efficiency.
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
Midfield powering technology facilitates reduced tissue damage and implantation time, allows for smaller implanted devices, and improves energy transfer efficiency, thereby enhancing patient comfort and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
wireless powering methods for implantable electronics are based on nearfield or farfield coupling
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods discussed herein can be for validating a position of a wirelessly powered electrostimulation device while the device is implanted in body tissue. A method can include situating the electrostimulation device in tissue and before an affixation mechanism of the electrostimulation device is deployed to maintain an implanted position of the electrostimulation device, and while electrodes of the device are in contact with the tissue, performing electrical testing of the electrostimulation device to determine whether the electrostimulation from the electrostimulation device evokes a specified response from the body that contains the tissue.