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Increasing transmission distance of wireless power links for active implantable medical devices

Project description

Novel magnetic coupling increases transmission distances of implantable medical devices

Wireless connectivity is exploding, linking ever more devices with greater speed, security and reliability. Active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) also rely on wireless connectivity. Their small sizes mean limited data and energy storage so they require frequent recharging and data transfer. Currently, the transfer distance is only a few centimetres, resulting in discomfort, stress and suboptimal treatment outcomes for patients. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the LongLinks-4-AIMDs project aims to increase the possible transfer distance by a factor of 10 with a novel time-modulated magnetic coupling approach, so-called Q-modulation, for smart energy management. It could enable many medical solutions validated in the lab to hit the market.

Objective

Cardiovascular diseases, neuronal conditions, and metabolic disorders together cause 22 million deaths each year worldwide. Fortunately, those conditions can often be addressed through local sensing and treatments using for example active implantable medical systems (AIMDs) or transcutaneous bioelectronic devices. To be “invisible” to the patients, those devices should have the smallest volume possible, which means they pack only limited data and energy storage, relying on a wireless link to get recharged and to transfer data. Improvement in this link is urgently needed, as today’s poor transfer distance (few centimeters) leads to discomfort, cognitive overload, induces stress, reduces quality of life, and is associated with several suboptimal treatment outcomes. Because of this drawback, many medical solutions already validated in the lab cannot be implemented on patients.
My aim is to achieve a major advance in the way energy and data are transferred, and to gain an order of magnitude in the wireless transfer distance over existing technologies, through the development of a novel time-modulated magnetic coupling strategy.
The approach will consist of: (WP1) developing a “smart Q-modulation”, which operates in a manner similar to regenerative braking systems, where energy is temporary saved when the quality factor of the resonator has to be reduced for data transmission, and later reused to increase the quality factor for power transmission; (WP2) maintaining the system in energy-efficient operation against the body changing environment, and (WP3) guaranteeing a safe operation of the power transfer link.
By enabling new wireless scenarios, this project will enable a whole set of new medical devices to reach the market, providing autonomously and imperceptibly operation to the user, thus alleviating their cognitive burden. The technology will also be transferable to many other applications, such as industrial sensing, reinforcing the European leadership on the field

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUX
Net EU contribution
€ 195 914,88
Address
PLACE PEY BERLAND 35
33000 Bordeaux
France
Region
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Aquitaine Gironde
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data