Survey of near-field wireless communication and power transfer for biomedical implants

Abstract

Bio-implanted medical devices with electronic components play a crucial role due to their effectiveness in monitoring and diagnosing diseases, enhancing patient comfort, and ensuring safety. Recently, significant efforts have been conducted to develop implantable and wireless telemetric biomedical systems. Topics such as appropriate near-field wireless communication design, power use, monitoring devices, high power transfer efficiency from external to internal parts (implanted), high communication rates, and the need for low energy consumption all significantly influence the advancement of implantable systems. In this survey, a comprehensive examination is undertaken on diverse subjects associated with near-field wireless power transfer (WPT)-based biomedical applications. The scope of this study encompasses various aspects, including WPT types, a comparative analysis of WPT types and techniques for medical devices, data transmission methods employing WPT-based modulation approaches, and the integration of WPT into biomedical implantable systems. Furthermore, the study investigates the extraction of research concerning WPT topologies and corresponding mathematical models, such as power transfer, transfer efficiency, mutual inductance, quality factor, and coupling coefficient, sourced from existing literature. The article also delves into the impact of the specific absorption rate on patient tissue. It sheds light on WPT's challenges in biomedical implants while offering potential solutions.

Keywords

• biomedical implants
• electromagnetic field
• near-field
• tissue safety
• wireless communication
• wireless power transfer