A high-efficiency ultrasonic power link for implantable medical devices

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We propose to develop a high-efficiency transcutaneous ultrasound link to provide power to implanted hearing devices. This requires a cohesive combination of engineering expertise to develop new technology, and clinical/physiological expertise to realise its potential in terms of new surgical options and to test its ability to deliver functionally. At present, implanted hearing devices are powered with a set of radiofrequency induction coils that transfer power through the magnetic field. Such systems have some serious and fundamental limitations: Induction coils trade off size and efficiency, with smaller devices being less efficient, and are quite sensitive to alignment and positioning errors. The high sensitivity to alignment error forces the use of alignment magnets which make it impossible to perform MRI scans on the implanted patient without either removing the magnet, or accepting large shadow areas in the images. MRI scanning is the definitive test for many disorders, and many