Progress on Wireless LVAD and Energy Sources for Mechanical Circulatory Systems

The energy systems of mechanical circulatory support devices have evolved significantly since the inception of the Artificial Heart Program in 1963. The transition from bulky paracorporeal pulsatile blood pumps to continuous flow devices has facilitated the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in a larger population of heart failure patients. While there has been improvement in pump reliability, MCS therapy is still limited by adverse events related to device implantation. The most common events affecting MCS patients are device-related infections. Despite the adoption of smaller continuous flow pump technology, the pump peripherals, including the driveline, have remained the same. Innovative energy transmission techniques, like transcutaneous energy transfer systems (TETS) and wireless power transfer via resonantly coupled inductors, have provided a framework to eliminate device-related infections and prevent hospital readmissions. Five decades after the initial goal of providing fully implantable heart replacement, the advancement of wireless energy systems has provided the basis by which full MCS system implantability and improved patient quality of life can be achieved. This paper reviews the most recent advancements of wireless power transfer specifically for MCS.