Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Implantable medical devices comprise a large and growing market, providing both short- and long-term treatment for a variety of medical conditions. This includes continuous therapy devices such as pacemakers and ventricular assist devices, and prostheses such as cochlear implants and retinal prosthesis. Wireless powering enables fully implantable devices that are less limited in size and lifetime by non-rechargeable battery power. Wireless energy transfer also enables communication with the implanted device, allowing monitoring and providing programmability. However, wireless transcutaneous energy transfer is complicated by unpredictability and variability of biological tissue. The overall goal of the proposed work is to model and study tissue variability and its effects on power transfer and absorption in tissue. First, we will examine power transfer mechanisms in tissue with varying dielectric properties, and the associated behavior of different antenna topologies transmitting through tissue. Then, we will examine the effects of tissue variability on optimal frequency for power transfer through tissue, balancing power delivery and tissue absorption. The next focus will be on developing and evaluating tissue phantoms to model variable properties. Finally, we will propose strategies for adapting a passive implantable device in response to variations in the tissue environment.
Author: Kara Bocan
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2769287040