Multi-Coil Transcutaneous Energy Transfer for Skin Heating Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) systems for implantable medical devices face challenges in efficiently supplying high power levels without causing excessive skin heating, particularly when used with devices like artificial heart pumps that require continuous energy delivery.
Innovation Solution
The use of a multi-channel external transmitter apparatus with pulsed power supply, where each transmitter coil is associated with a separate power supply channel, allowing power to be transmitted wirelessly to multiple receiver coils, reducing skin heating by spreading the heating effect over a larger area and using pulsed power to minimize heat retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If higher power levels are delivered to implantable medical devices, then the device performance is improved, but excessive skin heating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The external transmitter is divided into multiple independent transmitter coils (first transmitter coil, second transmitter coil, etc.), each capable of delivering power through a separate skin region. This segmentation allows the total power to be distributed across multiple skin areas, reducing the power density and heat generation at any single location while maintaining the required total power delivery to the implantable device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic switching between different transmitter coils to deliver power pulses through alternating skin regions. By rapidly switching between coils and allowing thermal dissipation between pulses, the system maintains high average power delivery while preventing excessive temperature buildup in any single skin area.
2Power
If higher power levels are delivered to implantable medical devices, then the device performance is improved, but energy transfer efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple transmitter coils are configured to operate in parallel, with each coil forming an independent inductive coupling path to the receiver coil. This segmentation creates multiple energy transfer channels, allowing the system to maintain optimal coupling conditions across a wider range of positions and orientations, thereby improving overall energy transfer efficiency at high power levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the output of multiple transmitter coils to deliver power to a single receiver coil. By merging the energy transfer paths of multiple coils, the system achieves higher total power delivery with improved efficiency compared to using a single coil at equivalent power levels, as the combined magnetic fields constructively interfere to enhance coupling.
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
This approach enhances the efficiency of energy transfer to implantable medical devices while minimizing skin heating, ensuring reliable and continuous power supply to high-power devices like artificial heart pumps.
Implementation Method 1
Power may be transmitted between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil by electromagnetic induction. For example, the external transmitter coil may be arranged to inductively couple to the internal receiver coil, and an alternating current applied to the transmitter coil used to induce an alternating current in the receiver coil
Data Source
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AI summary
An external transmitter apparatus for a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system for supplying power for use in energising an implantable medical device is disclosed, the apparatus comprising an external transmitter apparatus comprising a plurality of transmitter coils (17,19) for delivering power transcutaneously to one of a plurality of receiver coils (25,27) of an implantable receiver apparatus of the TET system when located in proximity thereto. The external transmitter apparatus is provided with power by a pulsed power supply (11). The coils of the external transmitter apparatus and the implantable receiver apparatus may be printed on flexible substrates. Also disclosed are methods of operating such a system, an external transmitter apparatus for use in such a system, an external transmitter apparatus and an implantable receiver apparatus including flexible coils.