Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
ESS HiPI: Energy Supply System for High Powered Implants (U402 & U496) Background There has been a remarkable development of medical devices over the last 30 years to support, and even substitute the heart in patients with advanced hear failure. However a clinically viable heart pump or any other high powered medical device should integrate a wireless power source to address the infection issues related to the drivelines currently in use to connect the implantable device with the external power source. The most problematic is the use of a driveline that passes through the skin to an external power supply. Drivelines frequently become infected leading to very serious clinical complications. Additionally, newer prototype systems using wireless power transfer across the skin have significant limitations as considerable heat is generated, leading to skin and tissue damage, not to mention the discomforting feeling which degrades the quality of life of patients. The incidence of heart failure increases rapidly with age and inactive lifestyles. As a consequence heart failure is a cardiovascular disease with both an increasing incidence and death rate worldwide. In the United States, approximately 670,000 new cases are diagnosed annually and approximately 300,000 patient deaths are attributed to advanced heart failure. In response to this important clinical need, scientists at the University of Ulster have developed a patent pending innovative technology for the production of a Transcutaneous Energy Transfer System. This collaborative project combines Ulster’s Engineering Research Institute, the Centre for Advanced Cardiovascular Research (CACR) and the Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre (NIBEC). Technology and Applications The market for high-powered medical devices in the cardiology sector is growing, particularly in the left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) segment. This increase in demand is driven by several factors, the most pertinent to this project are the increasing numbers of patients with heart failure, as a result of the availability of improved treatment for heart attacks, and the decreasing number of heart transplants being performed due to a fall in the number of donors. For patients with advanced heart failure, current clinical practice involves the use of LVADs that greatly improve quality and quantity of life. However there are a number of inherent challenges with the use of these devices. The development of this prototype will demonstrate the capability of the design to deliver sufficient energy using an innovative wireless power transmission protocol and a novel methodology for negligible skin heating effects, coupled with an advanced, implantable, miniaturised and light-weight technology. Together these solutions will resolve the challenges encountered with existing and prototype energy supply systems currently available. Development This product delivers an attractive proposition to companies involved in the manufacture of LVADs, as well as companies that manufacture power supply systems for medical devices. Although the primary objective is to disrupt the LVAD market segment, this technology will attract interest from manufacturers of other medical devices who are challenged by the combinational issue of heat generation and the requirement for medical implants that demand a high and constantly powered supply. The University of Ulster is actively seeking to establish relationships with commercial entities interested in using this disruptive technology for the manufacture of medical products or in related applications. Partnerships for the codevelopment of new products will also be considered. Patent Status Technology is currently being assessed for patentability. Lead Inventors Prof Omar Escalona Prof James McLaughlin Fergus Begley Technology Commercialisation Manager, Research & Innovation, Magee Campus, University of Ulster, Tel: +44 (0) 28 7167 5636 Derry/Londonderry, Mob: +44 (0) 7716 610 994 Northern Ireland, Email: [email protected] BT48 7JL