V.V. Zayats1, I.K. Sergeyev2, I.Iu. Trufanov3, E.S. Anikeev4, D.A. Fedorov5

1–5 Universal Design and Assistive Technology Resource Center (Moscow, Russia)

At present, the pace of development of batteries used in pacemakers and other invasive medical devices lags far behind the pace of development of microelectronics. Often, the dimensions of the batteries no longer meet the requirements of the designed medical devices. Also, the problem associated with the need for surgical replacement of a medical device when the battery is discharged has not yet been solved. In this regard, instead of the usual batteries, it is advisable to use rechargeable batteries with the possibility of wireless charging. Despite the fact that a large proportion of research on wireless charging methods of medical devices is devoted specifically to pacemakers, many researchers also suggest using these charging methods to power innovative invasive bioelectronic devices capable of affecting the body in diseases, or designed to monitor body parameters.

The limiting factor in the use of such bioelectronic devices is the problem of their power supply.  Therefore, the development and further widespread use of safe and technologically simple methods of wireless charging of invasive devices is very relevant. The purpose of this work is to identify the most relevant technologies for wireless charging of implantable medical devices today and to determine the prospects for their further development.

The article describes the principles of operation and methods of execution of various types of power supply for invasive devices, and also assesses the prospects for their further development for use in clinical practice and in the field of medical instrumentation. The authors show that the methods of inductive and magnetic resonance energy transmission, as the most studied technologies of wireless energy transmission for implantable medical devices, are currently the subject for further application of the efforts of scientists, doctors and specialists with a view to further technological development.

A promising direction for the development of technologies of inductive and magnetic resonance methods of energy transfer is the reduction of their overall dimensions and the development of flexible structures. This is important for placing implantable devices in critical, hard-to-reach places of the human body. In addition, the technical parameters of the devices can be optimized, including taking into account the relative location of the receiver and transmitter.

Other methods of wireless power transmission also have the potential for development. For example: a method of energy transfer by capacitive coupling, a method using medium-field frequencies, an ultrasound method, require further research to confirm safety for body tissues. The optical method of energy transfer can be improved in the direction of developing an optimal device design to eliminate energy dissipation. Implantable devices using a piezoelectric power supply require refinement of the design and search for new materials, the use of which will increase the flexibility of the devices. Further work is needed to reduce the probability of separation of the piezoelectric element from the tissues of the heart muscle, to increase the stability of the output power of the power source, as well as to achieve full compliance with the parameters of the calculated models in the manufactured prototypes.

Zayats V.V., Sergeyev I.K., Trufanov I.Iu., Anikeev E.S., Fedorov D.A. Wireless charging technologies for implantable autonomous medical devices. Biomedicine Radioengineering. 2022. V. 25. № 2. Р. 103-109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j15604136-202202-11 (In Russian)

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