An investigation of transmission efficiency of transcutaneous energy transmission system

To supply an electric power for driving a total artificial heart (TAH) from outside of the body, transcutaneous energy transmission system is profitable, but energy transmission losses occur. Especially, it is considered to be easily affected by forms and/or disposition of two coils. In this study, we have made a DC-AC inverter, rectifying and smoothing circuit and coreless coils, and experimentally investigated the influence of total energy transmission efficiency caused by vertical and/or horizontal disposition of two coils. In case of two same coils, maximum efficiency is obtained, but transmission stability for a horizontal shift is inferior. In case of large and small coils, for constant resistance of a load, energy supply, energy consumption and total transmission efficiency are all stable when an air core of a large cell contains an air core of a small one.