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Wouldn't wireless charging pad work well for this? Or is it unnecessary complicated considering how long batteries last?

by rplnt 9y ago

joshschreuder 9y ago
I think the main problem is the giant meat sack sitting between the charging pad and battery :)
- rplnt 9y ago
  The main problem might be patents :) Samsung includes charging of medical device[1] in their wireless charging patent. Although the patent[2] seems to focus on the charging method/devices, rather than where they are located. 1. http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US20140084858A1/US20140084858A1-20140327-D00014.png http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US20140084858A1/U... 2. http://www.google.com/patents/US20140084858 http://www.google.com/patents/US20140084858
ianhowson 9y ago
Chest cavities aren't especially space-constrained, and another commenter mentioned that electrodes wear out fairly quickly (single-digit years), so it appears that a fixed non-rechargeable battery has enough capacity to last the lifetime of the device. Wireless charging (for a pacemaker) has the issue that you've got to push the energy through quite a lot of flesh, with consequent efficiency and heat issues. Wireless charging is absolutely an option for other devices implanted closer to the skin, though.
ctdonath 9y ago
The issue being rather close to my heart, I'd rather have a single-use 7-year battery + full modern replacement of unit, than have to fiddle with periodic recharging just to prolong use of aging technology. Nobody much wants their life relying on >10 year old computers. (Remember: it's already "old technology" when you first get it implanted.)
- Kelbit 9y ago
  Rumor is Medtronic pacemakers still use 6502 processors (albeit on modernized custom silicon) with code written in the 80s. Big medical OEMs are loathe to change.
  - toomuchtodo 9y ago
    You don’t fix what isn’t broken when it’s a life critical system.

Wouldn't wireless charging pad work well for this? Or is it unnecessary complicated considering how long batteries last?

by rplnt 9y ago

Wouldn't wireless charging pad work well for this? Or is it unnecessary complicated considering how long batteries last?

joshschreuder 9y ago

I think the main problem is the giant meat sack sitting between the charging pad and battery :)

rplnt 9y ago
The main problem might be patents :) Samsung includes charging of medical device[1] in their wireless charging patent. Although the patent[2] seems to focus on the charging method/devices, rather than where they are located. 1. http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US20140084858A1/US20140084858A1-20140327-D00014.png http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US20140084858A1/U... 2. http://www.google.com/patents/US20140084858 http://www.google.com/patents/US20140084858

ianhowson 9y ago

Chest cavities aren't especially space-constrained, and another commenter mentioned that electrodes wear out fairly quickly (single-digit years), so it appears that a fixed non-rechargeable battery has enough capacity to last the lifetime of the device. Wireless charging (for a pacemaker) has the issue that you've got to push the energy through quite a lot of flesh, with consequent efficiency and heat issues. Wireless charging is absolutely an option for other devices implanted closer to the skin, though.

ctdonath 9y ago

The issue being rather close to my heart, I'd rather have a single-use 7-year battery + full modern replacement of unit, than have to fiddle with periodic recharging just to prolong use of aging technology. Nobody much wants their life relying on >10 year old computers. (Remember: it's already "old technology" when you first get it implanted.)

Kelbit 9y ago
Rumor is Medtronic pacemakers still use 6502 processors (albeit on modernized custom silicon) with code written in the 80s. Big medical OEMs are loathe to change.
- toomuchtodo 9y ago
  You don’t fix what isn’t broken when it’s a life critical system.