Mobile-Controlled Inductive Charging for Implantable Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging systems for implantable medical devices with rechargeable batteries are complex and require a reduction in components while maintaining high functionality and usability.
Innovation Solution
A charging system using a charger coil assembly and a mobile computing device, such as a mobile phone, to inductively transfer electrical energy to the implantable device's battery, controlled by the mobile device's processor and app instructions for voltage and current management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated charging device is used to recharge the battery in the implantable device, then reliable power transfer is achieved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a mobile computing device to serve dual purposes: its original computing functions and charging the implantable medical device battery. The mobile device's existing battery and wireless communication capabilities are leveraged to perform implantable device charging, eliminating the need for a dedicated charging device and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable power transfer through established wireless communication protocols.
2Device complexity
If manual operation of the pumping device is used, then no external power source is needed, but consistent inflation and deflation control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing manual mechanical pumping operations with an electronically-controlled system. The implantable device includes an electronically-operated pump and valve system controlled by a processor that receives signals from the mobile computing device, enabling precise and consistent control of fluid flow for inflation and deflation operations, thereby improving operational consistency while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
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
Simplifies the charging process, ensuring consistent and efficient power transfer to the implantable device, providing user-friendly interface and control over the charging operation.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission coil configured to generate an alternating magnetic field to inductively transfer electrical energy from the charger coil assembly to the battery of the implantable medical device
Data Source
AI summary
A charging system for charging a battery of an implantable medical device, includes: a charger coil assembly having a transmission coil configured to generate an alternating magnetic field to inductively transfer electrical energy from the charger coil assembly to the battery of the implantable medical device; and a mobile computing device that is electrically coupled to the charger coil assembly and where the mobile computing device includes: an energy storage device, a memory configured for storing executable instructions, and a processor configured for executing the executable instructions to control the transfer of electrical energy from the energy storage device to the transmission coil for inductive transfer from the charger coil assembly to the battery of the implantable medical device.