Wireless Recharge Controller for Implantable Medical Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical systems with rechargeable devices face issues such as the need for manual cord management during recharge, interruptions in recharge energy transfer due to telemetry communications, and high costs associated with multiple controllers providing recharge functions.

Innovation Solution

A medical system with a controller that wirelessly communicates with a separate recharge device, allowing for cordless operation and the use of multiple recharge devices with a single controller, enabling wireless energy transfer to an implantable medical device while maintaining telemetry communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the controller includes both control and recharge functions using the same telemetry head, then device integration is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice integrationVSAvoidcontroller complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the recharge function into a dedicated recharge device, distinct from the control controller. This segmentation allows the controller to focus on control functions while the recharge device handles energy transfer, reducing controller complexity and cost while maintaining versatility through the specialized recharge component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recharge device is designed with universal capability to work with multiple different controllers through wireless communication protocols. This multi-functionality allows a single recharge device to serve various controller types, achieving system versatility without requiring each controller to include integrated recharge functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the telemetry head is manually held during recharge and telemetry communications, then connectivity is ensured, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cord management burden

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidcord management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical cord connection with wireless communication technology. The recharge device and controller communicate and transfer energy wirelessly, eliminating the physical cord that required manual management while maintaining reliable connectivity through electromagnetic field-based communication and energy transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Wireless electromagnetic fields serve as an intermediary between the recharge device and controller, enabling energy and data transfer without direct physical contact. This intermediary mechanism maintains reliable connectivity while eliminating the need for manual cord management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If recharge energy transfer pauses during near field telemetry communications, then communication accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to prolonged recharge time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetelemetry communication accuracyVSAvoidrecharge speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables simultaneous wireless telemetry communication and recharge energy transfer through properly coordinated wireless channels. Both functions operate continuously without interruption or pausing, maintaining communication accuracy while maximizing recharge speed by eliminating idle time between operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

This solution eliminates the need for cords, reduces recharge time by allowing simultaneous energy transfer and telemetry, and lowers costs by enabling the use of a single controller with multiple recharge devices.

Implementation Method 1

an implantable medical device having a wireless recharge circuit having a wireless near field coupling to the wireless recharge circuit of the first recharge device to receive recharge energy from the first recharge device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear field coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9393434B2Medical device recharge systems using a controller in wireless communication with a separate recharge device

Publication Date: 2016.07.19 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

Medical device recharging systems include a controller and a separate recharge device that communicate wirelessly together to provide recharging to an implantable medical device. Either the controller or the recharge device may also communicate wirelessly with the implantable medical device to obtain recharge status and other information. There may be multiple recharge devices present within communication range of the controller, and the controller may determine which recharge device to activate depending upon proximity of each recharge device to the implantable medical device. The controller may allow the recharge device that is active at any given time to change so that the patient having the implantable medical device can move about in the area where the recharge devices are located while recharging continues.