Passive Bio-Medical Unit with MRI Power Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical technologies lack efficient and integrated solutions for wireless medical equipment that can seamlessly diagnose, monitor, and treat patients without the need for external power sources, while also ensuring compatibility with advanced medical imaging technologies like MRI.
Innovation Solution
The development of bio-medical units that are passive devices embedded within or on the body, equipped with power harvesting modules capable of generating a supply voltage from electromagnetic signals, such as those from MRI machines, and communication modules that use various frequency bands for data transmission and control, allowing for remote monitoring and treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If passive bio-medical units are used without external power sources, then patient mobility and comfort are improved, but device reliability and operational duration deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The bio-medical unit harvests electromagnetic energy from the MRI machine's operational signals to power itself, eliminating the need for external power sources or batteries. The power harvesting circuit converts RF energy into electrical energy that charges an energy storage element, enabling the device to autonomously sustain operation during MRI procedures without requiring external power connections or increasing patient mobility constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power supply parameter from conventional batteries or external power connections to electromagnetic energy harvesting from MRI RF signals. By converting the MRI machine's operational RF signals into usable electrical energy through the power harvesting circuit, the system enables passive operation while maintaining reliability during the imaging procedure.
2Ease of operation
If wireless communication modules are integrated into passive units, then ease of monitoring is improved, but device complexity and power requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module is merged with the power harvesting circuit and energy storage element within the same passive bio-medical unit. The RF signals that power the unit also carry communication data, combining power supply and data transmission functions into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for separate power and communication systems, reducing overall device complexity while enabling remote monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF signal reception circuit serves multiple functions: it harvests power to charge the energy storage element and simultaneously receives communication signals from the MRI machine. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated communication hardware, reducing device complexity while maintaining full communication capability for remote monitoring.
3Ease of manufacture
If power harvesting from electromagnetic signals is used, then elimination of external power sources is improved, but energy availability and operational duration worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage element is charged in advance during periods when electromagnetic energy is available, storing energy before it is needed. The power harvesting circuit continuously captures RF energy from MRI signals and stores it in the energy storage element, ensuring that sufficient power is accumulated to sustain the bio-medical unit's operations throughout the entire imaging procedure and beyond, eliminating the need for external power sources while guaranteeing adequate operational duration.
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 continuous, wireless diagnosis and treatment without external power sources, enhancing patient care by allowing for remote monitoring and reducing the need for patient travel, while ensuring compatibility with advanced medical imaging technologies.
Implementation Method 1
power harvesting modules capable of generating a supply voltage from electromagnetic signals, such as those from MRI machines
Data Source
AI summary
A medical system includes a transmitter unit, a bio-medical unit, and a receiver unit. The transmitter unit generates a magnetic resonance imaging signal and a downstream electromagnetic communication signal. The transmitter unit then modulates the downstream electromagnetic communication signal on the magnetic resonance imaging signal. The bio-medical unit receives the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal and recovers, therefrom, the downstream electromagnetic communication signal. The bio-medical unit converts the downstream electromagnetic communications signal into downstream information. The bio-medical also converts upstream information into an upstream electromagnetic communication signal. The receiver unit receives the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal and the upstream electromagnetic communication signal. The receiver unit then recovers the magnetic resonance imaging signal from the modulated magnetic resonance imaging signal and the upstream information from the upstream electromagnetic communication signal.