An energy transmission system for an artificial heart using leakage inductance compensation of transcutaneous transformer

A power supply system using a transcutaneous transformer to power an artificial heart through intact skin has been designed and built. In order to realize both high-voltage gain and minimum circulating current, compensation of leakage inductances on both sides of a transcutaneous transformer is proposed. A frequency region which realizes the robustness against coupling coefficient and load variation is identified. In this region, the power converter has inherent advantages such as zero-voltage switching (ZVS) or zero-current switching (ZCS) of the switches, high-voltage gain, minimum circulating current and high efficiency.