Electrical power to run ventricular assist devices using the Free-range Resonant Electrical Energy Delivery system

BACKGROUND Models of power delivery within an intact organism have been limited to ionizing radiation and, to some extent, sound and magnetic waves for diagnostic purposes. Traditional electrical power delivery within the intact human body relies on implanted batteries that limit the amount and duration of delivered power. The efficiency of current battery technology limits the substantial demands required, such as continuous operation of an implantable artificial heart pump within a human body. METHODS The fully implantable, miniaturized, Free-range Resonant Electrical Energy Delivery (FREE-D) system, compatible with any type of ventricular assist device (VAD), has been tested in a swine model (HVAD) for up to 3 hours. Key features of the system, the use of high-quality factor (Q) resonators together with an automatic tuning scheme, were tested over an extended operating range. Temperature changes of implanted components were measured to address safety and regulatory concerns of the FREE-D system in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR). RESULTS Dynamic power delivery using the adaptive tuning technique kept the system operating at maximum efficiency, dramatically increasing the wireless power transfer within a 1-meter diameter. Temperature rise in the FREE-D system never exceeded the maximum allowable temperature deviation of 2°C (but remained below body temperature) for an implanted device within the trunk of the body at 10 cm (25% efficiency) and 50 cm (20% efficiency), with no failure episodes. CONCLUSIONS The large operating range of FREE-D system extends the use of VAD for nearly all patients without being affected by the depth of the implanted pump. Our in-vivo results with the FREE-D system may offer a new perspective on quality of life for patients supported by implanted device.