Power device only by USB by bypassing battery?

My iPod 4th Gen battery is completely dead. The device when plugged in will flicker the Apple logo on and off.

Is there a way internally (by soldering some wires, perhaps with a resister) that I can trick the iPod to think that the battery is charged (but in reality is just powered by USB)?

I know the iPod needs 3.7v. I'm not sure what the voltage is that goes into the battery, but I assume it's 5v?

It's going to be plugged-in 24/7 (It's just a music player now), so having no battery is not a problem.