A comprehensive comparative study on inductive and ultrasonic wireless power transmission to biomedical implants
Open accessAbstract
This paper presents a comprehensive comparison between inductive coupling and ultrasound for wireless power transmission to biomedical implants. Several sets of inductive and ultrasonic links for different powering distances (d12) and receiver dimensions have been optimized, and their key parameters, including power transmission efficiency (PTE) and power delivered to the load (PDL) within safety constraints, have been compared to find out which method is optimal for any given condition. Two design procedures have been presented for maximizing the PTE of inductive and ultrasonic links by finding the optimal geometry for the transmitter and receiver (Rx) coils and ultrasonic transducers as well as the optimal operation frequency (fp). Our simulation and measurement results showed that the ultrasonic link transcends the inductive link in PTE and somewhat in PDL for a small Rx of 1.1 mm3(diameter of 1.2 mm), particularly when the Rx was deeply implanted inside the tissue (d12≥ 10 mm). However, for a larger 20 mm3Rx (diameter of 5 mm), the inductive link achieved higher PTE and PDL, particularly at shorter distances (d1212, the ultrasonic link is more sensitive to Rx misalignments and orientations. This led us to propose a new design procedure based on the worst-case misalignment scenario. The simulation results have been validated by measurements. The inductive and ultrasonic links, operating at 30 and 1.1 MHz, achieved measured PTEs of 0.05% and 0.65% for the 1.1 mm3Rx located 30 mm inside tissue and oil environments with optimal load resistances of 295 Ω and 3.8 kQ, respectively.
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For receivers of 1.1 mm3, an ultrasonic link achieved a PTE of 0.65% at an optimal frequency of 1.1 MHz, significantly higher than an inductive link's PTE of 0.05% at 30 MHz.
“A study revealed that for receivers of 1.1 mm3, the ultrasonic link achieved a Power Transmission Efficiency (PTE) of 0.65% at an optimal frequency of 1.1 MHz, significantly higher than the inductive link’s PTE of 0.05% at 30 MHz.”
From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Ahmed et al., 2018
The Measurement Results (Section IV; page unavailable) report a 1.1 mm³ receiver and an optimal ultrasonic frequency of 1.1 MHz, but give its measured PTE as 0.62%, not 0.65%. They report an inductive PTE of 0.053% at 30 MHz, consistent with the claim’s rounded 0.05%; the ultrasonic link’s PTE is substantially higher. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredUltrasonic links have shown superior performance over inductive links in powering small, deeply implanted receivers.
“Comparatively, ultrasonic links have shown superior performance over inductive links in powering small, deeply implanted receivers.”
From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Ahmed et al., 2018
Ultrasonic links are vulnerable to receiver misalignments and orientations, posing design constraints.
“However, ultrasonic links are vulnerable to receiver (Rx) misalignments and orientations, posing design constraints.”
From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Ahmed et al., 2018
For larger receivers of 20 mm3 at depths less than 30 mm, inductive links surpass ultrasound in PTE and PDL.
“For larger receivers of 20 mm3 at depths less than 30 mm, inductive links surpass ultrasound in PTE and PDL (Ahmed et al., 2018).”
From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Ahmed et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Ibrahim, A., Meng, M., & Kiani, M.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Venue
- IEEE Sensors Journal
- Published
- 2018-05-01
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 3813-3826
- ISSN
- 1530-437X (ISSN-L)
- 1558-1748
- 2379-9153
- PMC
- PMC6192045
- OpenAlex
- W2797024751
- Cited by
- 83
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- IEEE Sensors Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (NIBIB-1U18EB021789-01)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Wireless Power Transfer Systems
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Wireless Body Area Networks
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Induction Heating and Inverter Technology
- Keywords
- wireless power transfer, biomedical implants, inductive coupling, ultrasonic power transfer, power transfer efficiency, receiver misalignment, receiver geometry optimization, operating frequency optimization
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