Portable AED Power Management With Temperature-Adaptive Charging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AEDs are not portable, expensive, and intimidating to use, limiting their availability and accessibility for potential SCA victims, and they do not adapt to varying environmental conditions, affecting performance and component degradation.
Innovation Solution
A compact AED system with integrated environmental sensors and power management circuitry that adjusts operations based on temperature and environmental conditions, including battery charge and pad degradation, ensuring safe and reliable operation across diverse environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If AEDs are made more readily available and accessible, then survival chances for SCA sufferers improve, but existing AEDs are heavy, not portable, expensive, and intimidating to use
Solution Approach 1:
The AED system is divided into separate functional modules: a portable AED device, replaceable electrode pads, and an external charging device. This segmentation allows the main AED unit to be compact and portable while distributing other functions to separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The AED device automatically monitors its own battery charge level and environmental conditions, and can self-charge when placed in the charging case, reducing the need for manual intervention and making it more user-friendly for non-medical personnel.
2Ease of operation
If AEDs are made portable and compact, then accessibility improves, but performance and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The portable AED device nests within a charging case that contains the battery and charging circuitry. When not in use, the AED is stored in the case which simultaneously charges it, ensuring the device is always ready for use without compromising its compact portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters based on environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) detected by sensors. The power management circuitry modifies charging current and operational thresholds according to temperature measurements, maintaining reliability across varying environmental conditions.
3Loss of time
If power management circuitry operates at high charge rates, then battery recharging time decreases, but temperature increase and overcharging risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power management circuitry continuously monitors battery temperature and charge level, using this feedback to dynamically adjust the charging current. When temperature rises or charge level increases, the charging rate is automatically reduced to prevent overheating and overcharging.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system transitions from a static fixed-rate charging approach to a dynamic variable-rate charging system that adjusts power delivery in real-time based on battery state, enabling fast charging when safe and reducing power when temperature or charge level requires caution.
4Adaptability or versatility
If environmental monitoring is added to AED systems, then performance adaptation to conditions improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The environmental sensors serve multiple functions: monitoring temperature for battery management, detecting storage conditions for pad degradation assessment, and providing data for operational parameter adjustment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical environmental control systems with electronic sensors and software-based adaptation. Instead of physically modifying the device based on environment, electronic sensing and digital processing enable adaptive operation with minimal added complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The disclosure describes various aspects of an automated external defibrillator (AED) system, including shock generating electronics, a battery configured for providing power to the shock generating electronics, power management circuitry configured for managing the shock generating electronics and the battery, at least one environmental sensor configured for monitoring environmental conditions in which the AED system is placed, and a controller configured for controlling the power management circuitry and the at least one environmental sensor. The at least one environmental sensor includes a temperature sensor configured for providing a temperature measurement, and the controller is further configured for adjusting operations of the power management circuitry in accordance with the temperature measurement provided by the temperature sensor. The disclosure further describes associated methods of using the AED system.