Nerve Stimulator Patch Circuitry for Battery Life Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nerve stimulation technologies face challenges in efficiently managing battery power and maintaining consistent voltage levels during nerve activation, leading to reduced battery life and inconsistent treatment efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive nerve stimulator patch with novel circuitry that uses capacitors to store charge in stages, ensuring a consistent voltage level for nerve activation while maximizing battery life, and incorporates a feedback loop for adaptive charge adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If battery power is drawn in stages using capacitors to store charge, then battery life is maximized and voltage consistency is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery power delivery is segmented into multiple stages using capacitors. The battery charges capacitors in discrete steps, and the capacitors discharge to provide stimulation pulses. This segmentation allows the battery to operate at lower average current while maintaining the required peak voltages for nerve stimulation, thereby extending battery life without requiring a larger battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Capacitors are introduced as intermediary energy storage elements between the battery and the stimulation circuit. The capacitors act as buffers that can be rapidly charged from the battery and then rapidly discharged to deliver the high-voltage stimulation pulses. This intermediary approach decouples the battery's steady-state operation from the pulsed high-power demands of the stimulation circuit.
2Reliability
If feedback loop is implemented for adaptive charge adjustment, then treatment efficacy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A feedback loop is implemented that monitors the charge delivered to the nerve and adjusts subsequent stimulation parameters accordingly. The system measures the actual charge transfer during each pulse and uses this information to adapt the voltage, duration, or frequency of subsequent pulses to maintain optimal therapeutic effect. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent treatment efficacy despite variations in tissue impedance or nerve responsiveness.
3Power
If voltage is boosted to required level for nerve activation, then stimulation effectiveness is improved, but battery power is drained rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage boosting is performed periodically rather than continuously. The system alternates between charging phases (where the battery slowly charges capacitors through a DC-DC converter) and discharge phases (where the capacitors rapidly discharge through the stimulation circuit). This periodic operation allows the battery to operate at low current during charging while delivering high power only during the brief stimulation pulses, dramatically reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operating parameters including voltage, current, and duty cycle to optimize power efficiency. The DC-DC converter adjusts its switching frequency and duty cycle based on the battery voltage and capacitor charge state. During stimulation, the system delivers high voltage for brief intervals followed by longer recovery periods, effectively modulating the average power draw from the battery to extend operational life.
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
The solution enables longer battery life and consistent nerve stimulation, improving treatment efficacy by conserving battery power and adapting to changing environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
draw battery power in stages using capacitors to store charge until the charge level reaches its set level for discharge
Implementation Method 2
novel circuitry to adequately boost voltage to a required level
Data Source
AI summary
A topical nerve stimulation patch includes a substrate, a dermis conforming bottom surface of the substrate, a top outer surface of the substrate, a plurality of electrodes positioned on the patch proximal to the bottom surface and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the substrate, a power source and electronic circuitry embedded in the patch and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the substrate. The electronic circuitry is configured to generate an electrical stimuli via the electrodes that comprise a plurality of pulses of a target output voltage, and includes a controller configured to generate a first pulse at a first output voltage that is less than the target output voltage and generate a second pulse at a second output voltage that is less than the target output voltage and greater than the first output voltage.