3D Pacemaker Coil for Orientation-Independent Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pacemakers require precise anchoring to align charging coils with external coils on the skin surface, leading to potential misalignment and inadequate charging, imposing a medical burden and limiting charging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An implant with an air-core coil or magnetically conductive core that automatically adjusts its orientation to align with an external magnetic field, allowing for contactless recharging without specific alignment, and includes a compact design with a volume of 0.5 to 4 cm³, featuring a magnetic field capture area of 2.5*10⁻³ m² and a charging current of up to 2A.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the pacemaker coil is designed with a flat configuration bonded to a ferrite foil, then the device can be recharged contactlessly, but the coil's ability to collect magnetic field is limited and generates a strong opposing field that prematurely limits available current
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is divided into multiple windings arranged in a three-dimensional configuration rather than a single flat layer. This segmentation allows each winding to contribute to magnetic field collection independently, increasing overall charging current capability while maintaining contactless recharging functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The coil transitions from a two-dimensional flat configuration to a three-dimensional structure with windings extended in multiple spatial dimensions. This dimensional change increases the effective surface area for magnetic field capture and reduces opposing field effects, thereby increasing available charging current
2Reliability
If the pacemaker is anchored to ensure specific coil orientation parallel to skin surface, then charging alignment with external coil is achieved, but any deviation causes rapid charging current drop and places extreme medical burden on implanting physician
Solution Approach 1:
The coil windings are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration that can effectively receive magnetic flux from external coils regardless of the implant's orientation. This dynamic adaptability to different spatial orientations eliminates the need for precise anchoring, simplifying the implantation procedure while maintaining reliable charging
Solution Approach 2:
The coil design provides universal charging capability across multiple orientations. The three-dimensional winding structure functions effectively whether the implant is positioned horizontally, vertically, or at any intermediate angle, making the device universally compatible with various implantation sites and orientations
3Power
If the charging coil generates a very strong alternating magnetic field on skin surface, then sufficient field reaches the pacemaker coil, but the device volume increases and charging efficiency is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The three-dimensional coil windings are strategically arranged to concentrate magnetic field capture in specific regions. This local optimization of field collection efficiency allows the device to effectively receive charging power with a smaller external magnetic field strength, reducing the required field strength while maintaining charging efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of multiple winding configurations in three-dimensional space creates a composite magnetic field reception system. This composite structure enhances overall magnetic flux capture efficiency, allowing effective charging with lower external field strengths compared to single-layer flat coils
4Productivity
If the coil is designed to achieve maximum charging current, then recharging efficiency improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coil windings are nested within each other in a three-dimensional configuration, with inner windings positioned within the spatial envelope of outer windings. This nested arrangement maximizes magnetic field capture volume while maintaining a compact overall structure, achieving high recharging speed without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple winding structures are merged into a single integrated three-dimensional coil assembly that functions as one unified charging receptacle. This merging approach achieves enhanced charging current capability through combined windings while avoiding the complexity of coordinating multiple separate coil systems
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
Enables efficient, rapid charging of up to 2A current within one hour, allowing the implant to operate autonomously for over a year without external interaction, with the ability to be implanted in any spatial orientation.
Implementation Method 1
the coil is an air coil or has a magnetically conductive core made of a / several parts, which is located in the coil and runs along the coil axis, wherein the coil, when penetrated by the alternating magnetic field, generates a charging current
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic implant (100) for implantation into the body of a living being and for monitoring a bodily function, in particular a pacemaker for monitoring and controlling the bodily function, wherein the implant (100) comprises: an electrode section (2) which is intended to be fastened or arranged on a body section; and a housing with a volume VG in the range of 0.5 ≤ VG ≤ 4 cm3, preferably ≤ 2 cm3, which accommodates the following components of the electronic implant (100): (i) an electronic unit (3) connected to the electrode section, which is designed to monitor at least the bodily function via the electrode section (2); (ii) an energy store (4) for the long-term supply of the electronic unit (3) with electrical energy, which can be recharged with electrical energy after being discharged;and (iii) an energy receiving section (5) electrically connected to the energy storage device (4), which is configured to receive energy without contact and to deliver it to the energy storage device (4) for recharging the energy storage device (4); wherein (I) the energy receiving section (5) has at least one coil (6) extending along a coil axis (SA) and configured to receive the energy and deliver it to the energy storage device (4) when it is penetrated by an external alternating magnetic field generated by an external charging device, wherein the coil is an air-core coil or has a magnetically conductive core (7) located in the coil (6) and running along the coil axis (SA), (II) the coil (6) generates a charging current of a maximum of 2A, rectified by a rectifier, which is supplied to the energy storage device for recharging;(III) the energy receiving section (5) has a magnetic field capture area A0 perpendicular to the coil axis (SA) with A0 <=2.5*10-3m2; and (IV) the electronics (3) are configured to provide information for spatially adapting an orientation of the alternating magnetic field to the coil axis.