Ultrasound Power Transfer for Implantable Medical Devices: Current Research and Future Directions

Abstract

Pacemakers and neurostimulators are widely used as implantable medical devices (IMDs) in the art in recent years. Although such devices are an alternative, but they are battery dependent which must be regularly replaced, making the condition worse and costlier for surgery. Presently, traditional wireless electricity transmitting techniques including electromagnetic induction and radio frequency energy transfer are limited by short transmission distance, poor efficiency and low penetration of tissue. In recent years, Ultrasonic energy transfer (UPT), an emerging technology, is attracting extensive attention because of its superior characteristics like deep tissue penetration ability, higher energy density and high safety.This paper studies the possibility of applications for and development trends in ultrasound power transfer (UPT) technology in implantable medical devices (IMDs). UPT is touted as a potential solution to some limitations of conventional battery-powered implants. The article outlines a lot of benefits from our technology UPT, namely deep tissue penetration and safety of the application as well as figuration of its operating principles and conversion acoustic energy in electrical one. Fluid-structure coupling model, Mason model, and KLM model are three key theoretical models which affect the system efficiency. Other optimization techniques also for UPT performance improvement are examined: acoustic matching and material modification. The provided review serves to educate on the technical hurdles and promises of UPT in future medical applications.