Spiral Bobbin for Inductive Medical Implant Energy Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oblate, tightly spirally wound coils for inductive transcutaneous energy transmission face challenges such as increased proximity effect leading to heat loss, rigidity, and difficulty in fixing conductor ends, which hinder their efficiency and adaptability for high-power medical implants.
Innovation Solution
A coil design with spiral windings that have odd crossing points between adjacent turns, allowing alternating positions relative to the winding plane, reducing proximity effect, enabling efficient heat dissipation, flexible bending, and simple conductor end fixation, while maintaining a biocompatible and adaptable structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the coil is designed as oblate with tightly spirally wound conductors to achieve high inductance and heat dissipation, then the inductance and heat dissipation performance are improved, but the proximity effect increases leading to higher heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a planar oblate coil to a three-dimensional spiral coil where conductors alternate above and below the winding plane. This spatial arrangement reduces the proximity effect between adjacent windings while preserving the oblate footprint for high inductance, effectively resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation and proximity effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by combining multiple conductor layers at different heights (above and below the winding plane) within a single coil structure. This composite arrangement allows optimal spacing between conductors to minimize proximity effect while maintaining the overall oblate shape for high inductance and heat dissipation.
2Reliability
If the coil is designed as oblate with tightly spirally wound conductors, then the inductance is maximized, but the coil becomes rigid and difficult to adapt to body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The three-dimensional spiral configuration allows the coil to achieve high inductance through vertical stacking of conductor layers while the overall structure remains flexible enough to conform to body surfaces, resolving the contradiction between inductance maximization and adaptability.
3Reliability
If the conductors are tightly wound in parallel routing, then the inductance is maximized, but the conductor ends become difficult to fix and coil unwinding may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The alternating spatial arrangement of conductors above and below the winding plane creates natural separation at the ends of the spiral, making conductor termination and fixation significantly easier while maintaining tight winding for high inductance throughout the coil body.
4Power
If the coil is designed for high power transmission, then the energy transmission capability is improved, but the heat loss and proximity effect increase
Solution Approach 1:
The three-dimensional spiral configuration with alternating conductor positions reduces proximity effect between windings, enabling high power transmission with reduced heat loss by improving the spatial distribution of current-carrying conductors.
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 design achieves lower heat loss, improved heat dissipation, and enhanced flexibility, allowing for efficient high-power transmission and data transfer, suitable for medical implants with reduced rigidity and improved comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The transcutaneous, wireless energy supply of medical implants (such as blood pumps, heart support systems or artificial hearts) is primarily achieved by means of magnetic induction using at least one primary coil (outside the body) and at least one secondary coil (inside the body) through which alternating current flows is also traversed by alternating current due to the induction effect of the alternating magnetic field generated by the primary coil.
Implementation Method 2
at least one secondary coil (inside the body) through which alternating current flows is also traversed by alternating current due to the induction effect of the alternating magnetic field generated by the primary coil
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 1d~2a
Figure 2b~3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a bobbin for the inductive transcutaneous transmission of electric energy for supplying energy to active medical implants, wherein bobbin coils are designed as a conductor and extend spirally about a centre.