Novel Transcutaneous Energy Transfer (TET) Device

University of Rochester
posted on 06/15/2010

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A novel device to transfer energy to power an implanted device without a power cord going through the skin.

A ventricular assist device (VAD) is an auxiliary blood circulation pump. It is implanted to assist the left, right or both ventricles to enhance circulation. The power source is worn externally by the patient with a cable going through the skin. The opening in the skin becomes a portal for serious infection which may also travel to the heart. Numerous attempts have been made over the years to power VADs transcutaneously. Almost all such attempts have been of some variation of electromagnetic energy transfer from a sending coil outside the body to a receiving coil inside the body to drive the pump. An alternate means of transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) is needed to simplify the internal device and reduce the potential heat build-up due to the electromagnetic coil.

The present invention is a novel approach to transferring energy across in-tact skin, without a power cord, to drive an embedded pump mechanism. It would eliminate the potential risk of infection due to a power cord. The energy transferred would spin the pump impeller to circulate the blood. The mechanism would reduce heat build-up and potentially pump at higher efficiency. The mechanism would also charge an embedded battery, allowing the embedded pump to operate for an extended period of time without being connected to any external power source.