[2026] Minimizing Radiated Power in Wireless Power Transfer for Implants [open]

Future brain-machine interfaces require fully integrated electronics that can be powered wirelessly, both for patient safety and long-term reliability. Inductive power transfer is generally used for these types of implants. 

A limiting factor in implants is tissue heating. The power radiated by the transmitter is absorbed in the body and adds to the heat that’s produced by the implant itself. A main challenge is to reduce the total power absorbed in the tissue while providing sufficient power to the implant.

Current systems optimize the wireless link to minimize the transmitted power, which includes the efficiency of the power transmitter. However, the main limitation is tissue heating and not the battery operated transmitter outside the body. Hence, the wireless link should be optimized to minimize the power radiated into the tissue. 

Assignment

Your assignment, if you choose to accept it, is to develop a PCB demonstrator for a wireless power transfer architecture that minimizes total radiated power into tissue and can be implemented in a future integrated system. You will optimize your design in COMSOL and build a complete lab demo, including the transmitter and receiver coils, the required circuitry and an appropriate tissue phantom to validate your design. 

Requirements

EE-ME MSc or BME MSc

Contact

Last modified: 2026-03-13