Transport battery for use with portable thermal management system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling body temperature, particularly in clinical settings, face challenges in providing continuous thermal management during patient transport and between care facilities, especially when alternating current power is unavailable, and there is a need for efficient battery-powered systems that can maintain temperature control effectively.
Innovation Solution
A portable heat exchange system that includes a controller with a processor to manage battery power, automatically switching from alternating current to direct current, and utilizing rechargeable batteries to provide consistent cooling or warming power, ensuring at least 50 watts of cooling capacity for extended periods, with features like battery synchronization and charging optimization to maintain system operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the system uses alternating current power supply, then the cooling power and duration can be extended, but the system cannot operate during patient transport when AC power is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates multiple power source interfaces (AC power input and DC battery power input) that allow the thermal management system to function with different power sources. The controller automatically detects and switches between AC and DC power sources, enabling the system to operate both in fixed medical facilities with AC power and during patient transport with battery power, thus achieving multi-functionality and power source adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system switches to battery power, then the system can operate during transport, but the cooling capacity and duration are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a power conversion circuit as an intermediary between the DC battery power source and the thermal management components. This circuit efficiently converts DC battery power to the required voltage and current levels, maximizing the cooling power output from the limited battery capacity. The controller also manages power distribution to prioritize critical cooling functions, ensuring adequate cooling capacity is maintained during battery-powered operation
3Duration of action of moving object
If multiple batteries are used to extend cooling duration, then the operating time increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple battery cells into a single battery pack with unified management. The controller treats the multi-cell battery as a single power source, managing charge and discharge cycles collectively. This merging approach extends operating duration through increased energy capacity while avoiding the complexity of managing multiple independent battery systems, as the controller handles power distribution and monitoring as a unified system
4Measurement precision
If the system continuously monitors and synchronizes battery capacity, then the power management accuracy improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic battery capacity monitoring and synchronization rather than continuous monitoring. The controller performs capacity measurements and synchronizes battery status at scheduled intervals during operation, achieving sufficient measurement precision for power management decisions while minimizing the energy consumed by the monitoring process. This periodic approach balances accuracy requirements with energy conservation during battery-powered operation
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
The system ensures continuous temperature management during patient transport and between care facilities, providing reliable cooling or warming power for up to 90 minutes with rechargeable batteries, ensuring effective thermal treatment even when alternating current is not available, thus improving patient care outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The transport battery includes at least one rechargeable battery having one or more battery cells
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchange system for warming or cooling the body of a human or animal subject... an endovascular heat exchange catheter... a body surface heat exchange pad... it exchanges heat with blood flowing past the heat exchange in the blood vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A portable system for managing the temperature of a patient during transport includes a heater/cooler configured to be in fluid communication with a heat transfer catheter or a heat transfer surface pad; a pump for circulating heat exchange fluid; an alternating current power supply; and a processor configured to indicate if the alternating current power supply connection to the source of alternating current is interrupted. A rechargeable battery may be configured to provide power to the system when the alternating power supply is not connected to a source of alternating current. If the system is powered on and the connection to the alternating current source is interrupted, the system may automatically switch to receiving power from the rechargeable battery. The processor may alert an operator of the interruption of the connection to the alternating current source and indicate to the operator the amount of energy remaining in the battery.