Information Transmission from the Inside to the Outside of the Human Body Using Transcutaneous Transformer for Energy Transmission

Abstract

A transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) system can noninvasively transmit driving energy to a totally implantable artificial heart. However, only a few TET systems are being used worldwide because most TET systems are unable to transmit monitoring information for controlling an artificial heart. Therefore, we require unified systems that can transmit driving energy and communicate between the inside and the outside of the body. This work investigates information transmission from the inside to the outside of the human body using transcutaneous transformer for energy transmission. By opening or shorting the internal coil of the transformer, the input impedance looking the impedance of the internal circuit through the external coil of the transformer could be changed. This change was represented as (0, 1). Because this technique does not require a modulation circuit to be placed inside the body, the internal circuit remains simple and small. Therefore, it consumes very little power. Our investigations prove the usefulness of this technique.