Descrizione del progetto
Un nuovo accoppiamento magnetico per incrementare le distanze di trasferimento dei dispositivi medici impiantabili
La connettività wireless sta esplodendo, mettendo in connessione tra loro sempre più dispositivi con maggiore velocità, sicurezza e affidabilità; tra questi, anche i dispositivi medici impiantabili attivi (AIMD, active implantable medical device), le cui dimensioni ridotte comportano una limitata capacità di immagazzinare dati ed energia, per cui si rendono necessari ricariche e trasferimenti di dati frequenti. Attualmente, tuttavia, la distanza di trasferimento è di pochi centimetri, il che determina disagio, stress ed esiti clinici non ottimali per i pazienti. Con il sostegno del programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, il progetto LongLinks-4-AIMDs si propone di decuplicare la massima distanza di trasferimento mediante l’adozione di un nuovo approccio di accoppiamento magnetico modulato nel tempo, la cosiddetta modulazione Q, per la gestione intelligente dell’energia. In tal modo, il progetto potrebbe consentire a molte soluzioni mediche convalidate in laboratorio di essere immesse sul mercato.
Obiettivo
Cardiovascular diseases, neuronal conditions, and metabolic disorders together cause 22 million deaths each year worldwide. Fortunately, those conditions can often be addressed through local sensing and treatments using for example active implantable medical systems (AIMDs) or transcutaneous bioelectronic devices. To be “invisible” to the patients, those devices should have the smallest volume possible, which means they pack only limited data and energy storage, relying on a wireless link to get recharged and to transfer data. Improvement in this link is urgently needed, as today’s poor transfer distance (few centimeters) leads to discomfort, cognitive overload, induces stress, reduces quality of life, and is associated with several suboptimal treatment outcomes. Because of this drawback, many medical solutions already validated in the lab cannot be implemented on patients.
My aim is to achieve a major advance in the way energy and data are transferred, and to gain an order of magnitude in the wireless transfer distance over existing technologies, through the development of a novel time-modulated magnetic coupling strategy.
The approach will consist of: (WP1) developing a “smart Q-modulation”, which operates in a manner similar to regenerative braking systems, where energy is temporary saved when the quality factor of the resonator has to be reduced for data transmission, and later reused to increase the quality factor for power transmission; (WP2) maintaining the system in energy-efficient operation against the body changing environment, and (WP3) guaranteeing a safe operation of the power transfer link.
By enabling new wireless scenarios, this project will enable a whole set of new medical devices to reach the market, providing autonomously and imperceptibly operation to the user, thus alleviating their cognitive burden. The technology will also be transferable to many other applications, such as industrial sensing, reinforcing the European leadership on the field
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinatore
33000 Bordeaux
Francia