Wireless Biomodulation Implant With External Power Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless implantable devices for biomodulation, such as VNS, face challenges with size, spatial specificity, and the need for battery replacement, limiting their use in multiple capacities and anatomical locations.
Innovation Solution
A wireless biomodulation platform utilizing wireless power transfer and a non-implantable assembly for continuous power and data communication, enabling implantable components with reduced size and flexibility for various anatomical locations, and incorporating passive and active implants for therapeutic procedures like VNS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If wireless implantable devices use batteries for powering, then they can provide continuous power for biomodulation, but the device volume increases and requires repeated surgeries for battery replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery from the implantable device, placing it in an external wearable unit instead. This allows the implant to be extremely small (less than 1 cm³) while the external unit houses the battery and power management electronics, eliminating the need for battery replacement surgeries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into two separate components: a small implantable unit containing only the essential stimulation electronics and electrodes, and a larger external wearable unit containing the battery and power management circuitry. This segmentation allows the implant to be minimally invasive while the external unit provides continuous power wirelessly.
2Volume of moving object
If wireless implantable devices are made smaller for comfort, then they are easier to implant, but they lose spatial specificity and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical connections (wires and cables) with wireless electromagnetic field communication and power transfer. This allows the tiny implant to communicate reliably with the external unit without physical constraints, maintaining spatial specificity through precise electromagnetic coupling while keeping the device extremely small.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless implantable devices incorporate multiple functions (recording and stimulation), then they increase versatility, but they increase device complexity and size
Solution Approach 1:
The external wearable unit serves multiple functions: it houses the battery for power supply, contains the electronics for wireless communication, and provides the interface for programming and monitoring. This consolidates multiple functions in the external unit while keeping the implant itself simple and small.
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 platform achieves spatial specificity and reliability comparable to contemporary implanted devices while reducing volume and complexity, allowing for reduced surgery and enabling chronic experiments with minimal mechanical impact.
Implementation Method 1
a power management module configured to continuously generate one or more operating voltage for the implantable assembly using wireless power transfer from the non-implantable assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for wireless implantable devices, for example implantable biomedical devices employed for biomodulation. Some embodiments include a biomodulation system including a non-implantable assembly including a source for wireless power transfer and a data communications system, an implantable assembly including a power management module configured to continuously generate one or more operating voltage for the implantable assembly using wireless power transfer from the non-implantable assembly, a control module operably connected to at least one communication channel and at least one stimulation output, the control module including a processor unit to process information sensed via the at least one communication channel and, upon determining a condition exists, to generate an output to trigger the generation of a stimulus.