Transcutaneous Charging Device with Dynamic Cooling and Periodic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices face challenges in transcutaneous charging due to overheating issues during energy transfer, which can damage surrounding tissue and require slow charging rates to prevent harm, while users often forget to recharge batteries, leading to potential fatal consequences.
Innovation Solution
A transcutaneous charging system that includes a control unit to initiate and manage charging indications, monitor temperature, and use a dynamic cooling pad to prevent overheating, allowing for higher charge rates and longer charging intervals while ensuring patient safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transcutaneous charging is performed at a high rate, then charging speed is improved, but the implant temperature increases causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The charging process is performed in periodic cycles with alternating charging and cooling phases. During charging phases, energy is transferred at high rates to quickly recharge the battery. During cooling phases, the system pauses charging to allow heat dissipation from the implant. This periodic alternation enables high overall charging rates while preventing dangerous temperature accumulation in the tissue-surrounded implant.
2Reliability
If the implant is surrounded by a metal enclosure for protection, then device safety is improved, but eddy currents are generated causing heat accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
A non-metallic barrier layer is introduced as an intermediary between the metal enclosure and the charging coil. This intermediate layer, made of material transparent to electromagnetic fields or with low eddy current losses, allows the magnetic field to pass through to charge the implant while blocking or reducing the generation of harmful eddy currents in the metal enclosure. This mediator enables both protective enclosure and safe charging.
3Reliability
If the user monitors battery charge status continuously, then safety is improved, but user burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant incorporates an automated charge status monitoring and notification system that independently tracks battery charge levels and communicates with an external indicator device. The implant's control circuit continuously monitors the battery voltage and charge state, and automatically triggers notifications (visual, auditory, or haptic) when charging is needed or when full charge is achieved. This self-service approach eliminates the need for users to manually monitor battery status while maintaining safety.
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 enhances patient safety by preventing overheating and allowing faster charging without tissue damage, while also reminding users to recharge batteries, thus reducing the risk of device failure.
Implementation Method 1
a conversion circuit to convert power from said power input to transcutaneously charge said implant
Implementation Method 2
it may heat up as a result of eddy currents caused by a time-varying electromagnetic field, for example when charging the device
Data Source
AI summary
A transcutaneous charging device for charging an implant comprising:a power input;a conversion circuit to convert power from said power input to transcutaneously charge said implant;a control; andan indication element;wherein said control is programmed to initiate an indication using said indication element when it is time to charge said implant.