Passive Charging System for Implantable Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable medical devices require frequent and conscious charging, limiting patient mobility and flexibility as they need to actively engage with external charging systems, which can be cumbersome and interrupt daily activities.
Innovation Solution
A passive charging system using multiple primary coils that automatically activate upon proximity to an implanted medical device, allowing charging without overt patient action, and includes a field limiting circuit to ensure compliance with regulations and patient safety, with the ability to automatically acquire and apply government regulations and patient preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a passive charging system with multiple primary coils is used, then patient mobility and flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is divided into multiple independent primary coils distributed across different locations (e.g., bed, chair, table). Each coil can independently detect and charge the implant when the patient is in proximity, eliminating the need for a single complex charging device and enabling mobility throughout the day.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects the implant's presence through proximity sensing and initiates charging without requiring patient action. The external power source autonomously manages the charging process, including detecting when the implant is nearby and activating appropriate primary coils, thereby freeing the patient to engage in daily activities.
2Ease of operation
If automatic activation upon proximity is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a threshold-based proximity detection approach where coils are activated when the implant is within a predetermined distance range. This partial action approach (activating only when sufficiently close) provides adequate charging reliability without requiring ultra-precise positioning, balancing ease of operation with practical measurement requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the implant's proximity and charging status, using feedback signals to dynamically activate or deactivate primary coils. This feedback mechanism ensures charging occurs only when the implant is in appropriate proximity, maintaining operational simplicity while managing detection precision requirements through adaptive control.
3Reliability
If field limiting circuits are added to ensure compliance, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The field limiting circuit dynamically adjusts operational parameters (such as coil activation patterns, power levels, or timing) to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. By modifying these parameters based on detected conditions and regulatory thresholds, the system achieves compliance without requiring overly complex hardware architectures.
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, automatic charging of implantable medical devices during daily activities, enhancing patient mobility and reducing the burden of charging, while ensuring safe and compliant energy transfer.
Implementation Method 1
electrical power can be transcutaneously transferred through the use of inductive coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A charging system for an implantable medical device having a secondary coil. The charging system includes an external power source having at least one primary coil, a modulation, circuit operatively coupled to the primary coil and capable of driving it in a manner characterized by a charging parameter, and a sensor in communication with the modulation circuit and capable of sensing a condition indicating a need to adjust the charging parameter during a charging process. The parameter may be varied so that data sensed by the sensor meets a threshold requirement, which may be based on a patient preference, a government regulation, a recommendation promulgated by a health authority and/or a requirement associated with another device carried by the patient. In one embodiment, the regulation dictates maximum magnetic field exposure, and a field limiting circuit is employed to adjust the charging process.