A large air gap flat transformer for a transcutaneous energy transmission system

Abstract

A flat transformer for a full-bridge series resonant DC/DC power converter which transfers several W of power across a large, variable human skin gap has been designed and built, The power converter can power a rechargeable cardiac pacemaker battery through intact skin by utilizing a transformer with an air gap of 0.5 to 1.5 cm between the primary and the secondary windings. A ferrite pot core is used for the primary winding. The secondary winding with a flat amorphous core would be implanted under the skin, and the primary would be placed on top of the secondary outside the body.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>