Semiconductor Switching Circuit for Magnetic Stimulation Coil
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic stimulation devices require significant electrical power to generate therapeutic magnetic pulses, leading to coil heating and complexity, which is not effectively mitigated by existing cooling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic stimulation device incorporating a semiconductor switching device to efficiently couple power to an inductor, reducing the power required to generate a therapeutic magnetic pulse, thereby minimizing coil heating and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional power delivery systems are used to generate therapeutic magnetic pulses, then sufficient power is delivered to achieve therapeutic effect, but coil heating becomes excessive and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pulsed power delivery where the semiconductor switching device switches power to the coil in periodic pulses rather than continuous delivery. This allows the coil to dissipate heat between pulses, reducing overall temperature rise while maintaining sufficient average power for therapeutic effect. The pulsed operation mode is key to resolving the contradiction between delivering enough power and minimizing heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using high-voltage, low-current pulsed delivery instead of conventional lower-voltage, higher-current continuous delivery. This parameter change allows achieving the same therapeutic power effect with significantly reduced resistive heating (I²R losses), directly addressing the coil heating problem while maintaining power delivery effectiveness.
2Power
If conventional power delivery systems are used to generate therapeutic magnetic pulses, then sufficient power is delivered to achieve therapeutic effect, but device complexity and cost increase due to cooling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex cooling mechanisms from the system by adopting pulsed power delivery with semiconductor switching. The solution removes the need for water cooling systems, air cooling fans, or other thermal management hardware that would add complexity and cost, while still achieving effective power delivery for magnetic pulse generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulsed power delivery system allows the coil to self-regulate its temperature by dissipating heat during the off-periods between pulses. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external active cooling mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through proper pulse timing and duty cycle management.
3Productivity
If conventional power delivery systems are used to generate rapid trains of magnetic pulses, then rapid stimulation is achieved, but power requirements become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsed delivery where power is supplied in rapid bursts corresponding to the desired pulse train frequency. The semiconductor switching device enables rapid on-off cycling that matches the therapeutic pulse rate requirements while minimizing the duty cycle. This allows high productivity (rapid pulse trains) without continuously high power requirements, as power is delivered only during the brief pulse generation moments rather than continuously.
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 solution reduces power requirements by approximately 50%, achieving an 800% gain in efficiency compared to conventional systems, resulting in a smaller, less complex, and less expensive device.
Implementation Method 1
When an ordinary conductive wire loop is passed through a magnetic field or is in the presence of a changing magnetic field, an electric current is induced in the wire. The same principle holds true for conductive biological tissue. When a changing magnetic field is applied to a portion of the body, neurons may be depolarized and stimulated.
Implementation Method 2
TMS uses a rapidly changing magnetic field to induce a current in a nerve cell, without having to cut or penetrate the skin. The nerve is said to 'fire' when a membrane potential within the nerve rises with respect to its normal negative ambient level of approximately -90 mV.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The inventive technique includes devices and methods for generating a magnetic field. One such device may include an inductor for generating a magnetic field and a power source for providing power. Such a device may also include a semiconductor switching device that operatively couples the inductor and power source, wherein the semiconductor switching device directs power from the power source to the inductor to generate the magnetic field.