A Transcutaneous Optical Telemetry System for a Totally Implantable Artificial Heart Reduction of Power Consumption of the System

• Published in: Jinko Zoki Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 369 - 376
• Main Authors: Inoue, K, Shiba, K, Koshiji, K, Tsuchimoto, K, Tsukahara, K, Masuzawa, T, Tatsumi, E, Taenaka, Y, Takano, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: JAPANESE SOCIETY FOR ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 1999
• Subjects: Bi-directional transmitter and receiver; Reduction of dissipation power; Totally implantable artificial heart; Trans cutaneous optical coupler; Transcutaneous optical telemetry system
• ISSN: 0300-0818; 1883-6097
• DOI: 10.11392/jsao1972.28.369

It is necessary to monitor the operating conditions of a totally implantable artificial heart (TIAH) and control it outside the body. Using infrared rays transmittible through the skin, we have been developing a transcutaneous optical telemetry system (TOTS) without skin invasion. This system is superior to other electromagnetic systems in terms of quality of life, EMC and power consumption. Miniturization is required for the implantable TOTS from the viewpoint of power consumption. This paper reports the reduction of the power consumption of the TOTS which is achieved by a redesign of the modulation and demodulation circuits, while the DC power supply for their circuits was changed from double sources to a single source. As a result, the power consumption of the redesigned TOTS was reduced to 50% of the conventional one. Further, when the redesigned TOTS was powered by either the externally-coupled transcutaneous energy transmission system or by the rechargeable internal backup battery, the bi-directional communication characteristics were estimated to be under a rate of 9600 bps. As a result, the system showed good characteristics with both powering systems. It is concluded that the redesigned TOTS is applicable to a TIAH system.