Neurostimulator Programmer Thermal Regulation via Dynamic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Neurostimulation programmers face safety and efficacy issues due to excessive temperatures, which can lead to suboptimal operation or safety risks, necessitating effective temperature monitoring and regulation to adhere to prescribed standards.
Innovation Solution
Implementation of temperature monitoring and regulation software algorithms in neurostimulator programmers that adjust charge rates, brightness levels, and other functionalities based on sensor data to maintain safe operating temperatures, including a first temperature-regulation software for reducing heat and a second software for handling extreme temperatures by potentially shutting down the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the charge rate of the charger module is increased to improve charging speed, then productivity is improved, but temperature increases causing safety risks and suboptimal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors temperature through sensors and uses feedback control to adjust the charge rate. When temperature exceeds predefined thresholds, the system automatically reduces the charge rate to maintain safe operating temperatures, creating a closed-loop control system that balances charging speed with thermal safety
Solution Approach 2:
The charge rate is made dynamic rather than static, allowing the system to adjust charging speed in real-time based on temperature conditions. The charge rate can vary between minimum and maximum levels depending on thermal feedback, enabling the system to optimize charging speed while preventing overheating
2Illumination intensity
If the brightness level of the display is increased to improve visibility, then illumination intensity is improved, but temperature increases causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The display brightness is made dynamically adjustable based on temperature feedback. The system can reduce brightness levels when temperature thresholds are exceeded, creating a dynamic adaptation mechanism that prioritizes safety while maintaining optimal visibility under normal operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the brightness parameter of the display in response to temperature conditions. By adjusting this physical parameter dynamically, the system can reduce heat generation from the display while maintaining usability, demonstrating parameter adaptation to resolve the contradiction between visibility and thermal safety
3Reliability
If temperature monitoring and regulation software is implemented to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature monitoring and regulation system operates autonomously without requiring user intervention. The software automatically monitors temperature, compares readings against thresholds, and adjusts system parameters (charge rate, brightness) accordingly, allowing the device to self-regulate its thermal state while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature regulation software serves multiple functions simultaneously: it monitors temperature, controls charging parameters, adjusts display brightness, and provides user notifications. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a unified control mechanism, managing complexity through integration
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for monitoring and regulating temperatures of neurostimulator programmers are provided herein. A neurostimulator programmer may include one or more sensors that may detect one or more temperatures associated with the neurostimulator programmer. Each of the one or more sensors may be associated with one or more respective threshold values. When these threshold values are exceeded, one or more courses of actions may be taken by the neurostimulator programmer. For example, the neurostimulator programmer may reduce functionality of one or more heat-generating components, increase monitoring of temperature, and/or initiate shutdown of the neurostimulator programmer. In some cases, two or more such methods may be performed simultaneously, for example, one method to deal with high temperatures and another method to deal with particularly excessive temperatures.