Reducing human body heating and temperature rises due to inductively-powered implantable medical devices

Abstract

Abstract The use of inductive power transfer (IPT) for medical implants can cause heating and temperature rises in human tissue. Increasing the load resistance away from the optimal value for maximising link efficiency has been shown to reduce the specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature rises in a human body model in electromagnetic and thermal simulations. However, these quantities are generally difficult to measure as they are internal to the body, so experiments with a phantom should be used to verify the theory and simulations. This paper presents results of an experiment, in which 10 W is delivered to a receiver immersed in salt water with two different load resistances. The temperature rise of the salt water was lower with the use of the increased load. Simulations of the experimental setup demonstrate good agreement with experimental results.