Implementation of a Dual Wireless Power Transfer and Rotation Monitoring System for Prosthetic Hands

Sadeque Reza Khan,Marc P. Y. Desmulliez

doi:10.1109/access.2019.2932577

Sadeque Reza Khan, Marc P. Y. Desmulliez

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2019.2932577

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Abstract

This article presents the design, manufacture and test of an inductively coupled wireless power transfer (WPT) system used as a power source for prosthetic hands. Prosthetic hands are the most common artificial limbs among the physically disabled population. Limited storage capacity of the battery places severe limitations regarding the continuous use of this device. A WPT link is therefore proposed to supply power to such devices. The WPT system consists of a transmitter circuit (class-E power amplifier) and WPT coils along with commercially available receiver circuit and multiple motors. Assessment of the unwanted heating of the human tissue due to wireless power transfer was simulated using the commercial electromagnetic simulator ANSYS HFSS™. Results were experimentally validated by measuring in real-time temperature variations inside a phantom mimicking the properties of human muscle. Monitoring and control the rotation of the prosthetic hand was also demonstrated utilizing rotation-dependent wireless power transfer parameters. The WPT scheme proposed serves therefore the dual property of providing power to the prosthetic limb whilst monitoring the wrist rotation.

Highlights

Biomedical electronic devices (BEDs) have been of interest over the last decade for applications ranging from health monitoring, syndrome detection, disease prevention, drug delivery to patients’ rehabilitation [1]–[4]
Continuous and reliable power sourcing within the human body has been a major challenge since the development of the heart pacemaker in the 1960s [5], with batteries used as the primary power source
The receiver coil has significantly lower mass compared to the batteries used inside commercially available prosthetic hands

Summary

Introduction

Biomedical electronic devices (BEDs) have been of interest over the last decade for applications ranging from health monitoring, syndrome detection, disease prevention, drug delivery to patients’ rehabilitation [1]–[4]. The rapid technological advances of these devices, in terms of multiple functionality, performance improvement and enhanced reliability, have been made possible by the continued development of integrated electronic chips, sensors, actuators and packaging technologies. These advances can only be possible if BEDs satisfy mandatory energy requirements for reliable device operation. The current recharging method of these limbs demands the removal of prosthetics limbs from the patient, a procedure which is uncomfortable and sometimes undignified This inefficient power sourcing could be resolved by either making BEDs more energy efficient, improving the power storage capacity or using alternative power sources. Wireless power transfer (WPT) offers a promising alternative, due to its convenient portability [7], [8]

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