Project Summary | Project Information |
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The objective of the Transcutaneous Signal Transmission project was to develop a system that could transmit signals to and from a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) with a decreased amount of physical wiring through the skin. The original design of the LVAD called for a percutaneous cable consisting of 23 wires with a diameter of 8mm. Through the senior design process 16 wires were eliminated, decreasing the cable diameter to 2.7 mm. This provided 370% improvement in flexibility and less skin penetration, minimizing the risk of infection. The number of percutaneous wires was reduced by changing the placement of components as well as implementing a communication protocol, SPI, capable of transmitting and receiving the required signals through fewer wires. It was found that all signals could accurately be transmitted through the system except for the motor speed command signal. In addition, a transcutaneous energy transmission system was developed in order to further reduce required wires by wirelessly delivering power. The power efficiency was found to be 10% over the system and 27% over the coils. |
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Poster | Conference Paper | ||
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The Final Product | |||
Public Documents & Project Information
Planning | Design Process Documents | Major Publications |
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Customer Needs Actually Met (SD 2) Target Specifications Actually Met (SD 2) Electronics Theory of Operation, Pseudo-code, and Feasibility (SD 1) |
Concept Design Review Packet (SD 1) |
Supporting Documentation
Primary Components - Data Sheets
- Signal Controller
- Digital to Analog Converter
- Case Material (ABSPlus)
- Medical Silicone
- Heat Shrink Boots
Useful Technical Papers
- The AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart
- Thoratec Transcutaneous Energy Transformer System: A Review and Update
- Transcutaneous Energy Transfer System for Powering Implantable Biomedical Devices