Resonance-Based Wireless Power Transfer for Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for powering implantable medical devices require frequent surgical replacements due to limited battery life and are hindered by the size, weight, and safety concerns of traditional batteries, while wireless power transfer technologies face limitations in delivering sufficient power to moving targets with alignment issues and energy dissipation into biological tissues.
Innovation Solution
A wireless power transfer system utilizing a driver coil array, hexagonally packed transmitter mat, and receiver coil with magnetically coupled resonance to create a transcutaneous power link for implanted devices, allowing for efficient power delivery through evanescent fields, with adjustable coil designs and tracking mechanisms for optimal power transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If traditional batteries are used in implantable devices, then the devices can be powered reliably, but frequent surgical replacements are required due to limited battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source from the implantable device itself and places it externally. The system uses an external transmitter coil to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver coil implanted in the patient, eliminating the need for internal batteries and their associated replacement surgeries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless power transmission as an intermediary between the external power source and the implantable device. The magnetic coupling field serves as the mediator that transfers energy without physical contact, enabling continuous power supply without surgical intervention.
2Ease of operation
If wireless power transfer is used to power implantable devices, then surgical replacements are avoided, but sufficient power delivery to moving targets is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a tracking system that dynamically adjusts the position of the external transmitter coil to maintain optimal alignment with the moving implantable device. This dynamic adjustment ensures consistent magnetic coupling and reliable power delivery regardless of the patient's movement or device position changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The external transmitter coil system is designed to work with multiple different implantable devices and accommodate various body positions and movements. The tracking capability and adjustable positioning make the system universally applicable to different clinical scenarios and device types.
3Use of energy by moving object
If magnetic coupling is used for wireless power transfer, then power can be transmitted transcutaneously, but energy dissipation into biological tissues occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent operates at specific resonant frequencies that optimize magnetic coupling efficiency while minimizing energy loss to surrounding tissues. By tuning the transmitter and receiver coils to match resonant frequencies, the system maximizes power transfer through the skin while reducing parasitic heating and energy dissipation in biological tissues.
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 reliable and efficient wireless power delivery to implanted devices, reducing the need for surgical replacements, minimizing energy dissipation into biological tissues, and allowing for free movement of both animals and humans, while maintaining resonance and stability across varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Power is injected by the driver coils into the transmitter coils in the transmitter mat to maintain resonance in the presence of losses and power drawn by the receiver coil from the magnetic field.
Implementation Method 2
The magnetically coupled resonance between two isolated parts is established by an array of primary coils and a single small secondary coil to create a transcutaneous power link for implanted devices as moving targets.
Implementation Method 3
Wireless electricity represents a new WPT technique based on strongly coupled resonance via evanescent fields in the midrange of coil separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless power transfer system including a driver coil array, a hexagonally-packed transmitter mat, a receiver coil, and a load coil for powering a medical implant. The magnetically coupled resonance between two isolated parts is established by an array of primary coils and a single small secondary coil to create a transcutaneous power link for implanted devices as moving targets. The primary isolated part includes a driver coil array magnetically coupled to a mat of hexagonally packed primary coils. Power is injected by the driver coils into the transmitter coils in the transmitter mat to maintain resonance in the presence of losses and power drawn by the receiver coil from the magnetic field. The implanted secondary isolated part includes a receiver coil magnetically coupled to a load coil. A rectification/filter system is connected to the load coil supplying DC power to the electronic circuits of the implant.