Wireless Power Transmission for Left Ventricular Assist Devices: In-Vivo Trials, Challenges, and Future Directions

This paper aims to provide an overview of research achievements in the application of wireless power transfer (WPT) technology to power left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). These devices are implanted cardiac pumps designed to support patients with severe heart failure. LVAD implants are currently powered through a percutaneous cable that is often the cause of critical infections known as driveline infections (DLI) that require device explantation. The innovative WPT technology to power LVAD systems is a particularly attractive solution to overcome the criticality related to DLI and to improve patient comfort. The focus is on <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">in vivo</i> trials of a transcutaneous wireless LVAD power system, providing details in terms of architecture, specifications and data collected during experimental tests. Finally, future directions are presented, emphasizing that WPT technology is poised to make LVADs a viable long-term or destination therapy rather than a simple bridge-to-transplant option.