Image Credit: Composite of images by Leviticus Cardio
Leviticus Cardio, a company based in Petach Tikva, Israel, has been developing a wireless power transfer technology that they call “Coplanar Energy Transfer” (CET). The system supports high-efficiency (up to 75%) power transfer levels of up to 30 Watts, making it suitable for powering ventricular-assist devices.
Like other transcutaneous energy transfer systems, Leviticus is used on inductive power transfer between an external primary coil and an implanted secondary coil. However, instead of the traditional pancake coil subcutaneous implant, the CET coil is placed around the lung. The unique engineering of the coplanar energy transfer system is characterized by two large rings utilizing a coil-within-the-coil topology, ensuring robust resonance energy transfer
The implantable components are:
- Implantable Coil Ring, which is a resonant structure that receives power from the external Power Transmission Belt. The coil is implanted around the lung and fixated to the chest wall.
- Internal Controller and Battery, which controls the power receiver circuits, activates the VAD brushless DC motor, communicates with the external controller through standard MICS protocol, and controls the battery smart charging circuits. The battery provides power backup and enables several hours (up to 6 hours) of operation without the external Power Transmission Belt.
Leviticus Cardio partnered with Jarvik Heart Inc. to develop the Fully Implanted Ventricular Assist Device (FIVAD). First-in-man implants at the National Research Center for Cardiac Surgery in Astana, Kazakhstan were reported in February 2019. A paper on these implants is a available at: https://www.jhltonline.org/article/S1053-2498(19)31346-4/pdf
Leviticus Cardio’s website is at: http://leviticus-cardio.com/