Abstract
When using a rechargeable battery for an energy source outside the body, it is necessary to reduce the input voltage of the ECTE TS (Externally coupled transcutaneous energy transmission system). Three types of ferrite cores, that were toroidal, “O” and “θ” -shaped, were made on an experimental basis, and the attachability of the transcutaneous transformer to the body surface was also investigated. As a result, it was found that in an in vitro experiment, the input voltage to the ECTETS with a Push-pull type converter was reduced from 61.3 V to 28.7 V for a transmission power of 20 W and from 73.4 V to 32.0 V for that of 40 W, in addition, the DC-DC energy transmission efficiency was 76.9-86.5% at an output power of 5-40 W. The results obtained from the in vivo experiment were almost equivalent to those from the in vitro experiment, in addition, the ECTETS performed stably in the chronic experiment, and had no problems related to viewpoint of rises in temperatures. Further, an EHTAH (Electrohydraulic total artificial heart) was driven by the ECTETS. As a result, we found that a left ventricular output flow of 4.8-7.9l/min (heart rate of 60-90 bpm) could be obtained. The attachability of the “O” and “θ”-shaped ferrite cores were favorable in comparison with the toroidal core.
