Ensuring reliable power management

One of the trends in the medical sector is that treatments are more and more outside of hospital walls, and therefore devices are becoming more mobile and wearable. As a result, power monitoring and power management is becoming a crucial element in the device’s practical usage and has become the backbone that ensures our devices continue to run smoothly and safely. Our Zentis developers know all about it. Let's break it down.

Understanding the power needs of our devices is where it all begins. We delve into how much power each part consumes - things like sensors, processors, displays, and communication modules. We also consider factors like battery capacity and power supply options. It's not just about how long the device can run; it's also about safety, size, weight, efficiency, and ease of use.

Once we grasp those needs, the next step is power optimization. Here, we get crafty. We use tools to track where power is slipping away: we start collecting detailed power use data and start mapping power use to components duty cycles and operating modes.

But wait, there's more. We must weigh the power trade-offs. It's about finding that sweet spot where the  device performs its best while sipping the least amount of power. Safety is non-negotiable—we keep an eye out for overheating or short-circuiting. Plus, we ensure the device stays consistent and accurate, even when faced with power fluctuations or interference. Oh, and don't forget about regulations—we stay in line with the CE, FDA, and ISO standards every step of the way.

A practical example: a device we worked on used about 1.2mA in sleep and 400mA while active. After a schematics analysis and board level component power use calculation, we were able to reduce sleep power to less than 350µA by removing a small number of components from the BOM and optimizing the system software to provide an alternate solution for these.

In a nutshell, robust power management practices are the bedrock of reliable, safe, and efficient medical devices. It's a journey that demands attention to detail from start to finish: the Zentis Power Management Framework provides a solid process to optimize power usage of your device. Let's power up for success!

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