Invention:
This is a Near-Field Communication (NFC) enabled technology that can be embedded in wearable materials to charge battery-free implants. It allows for the implants to be charged by power casters from a distance, meaning they remain fully operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for months on end. It will also reduce the space a battery on an implantable device needs.
Background:
Current battery technology takes up a lot of space, the battery can take up to 90% of the volume of an implantable device and up to 60% of its weight. It is also important to make sure the recharging process does not interfere with the patients behaviors. There is a balance that needs to be found between the power consumption of small implantable devices and their ability to transmit data over a longer range.
This solution solves the problem by completely removing the battery from the implant and placing the power source external to the implanted device and utilizing NFC technology for charging. The patient will not have to worry about removing the power-draining device, or plugging into a power source to charge their implant. They will be able to charge while on the move and within a distance range from the power source. The key technological novelty is the combination of wireless battery free implants that have minimal impact on the patient with virtually imperceptible wearable devices to provide seamless therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities.
Applications:
- Battery-free implants
- Non-invasive human implants
- Long-range charging & data transmission
Advantages:
- Inexpensive
- Smaller implants
- 24/7 charging
