EMI in a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) by the wireless powering of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

This article deals with the electromagnetic interference (EMI) in a cardiac implantable electronic device (e.g., implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy) generated by a left ventricular assisted device (LVAD) powered by a wireless power transfer (WPT) system. Wireless LVAD, not yet available in the market, is currently being investigated for many aspects spanning from electronics, hydraulic, electrical feeding, mechanical, and its possible impact on other implanted devices, such as a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). No results are yet published on possible EMI effects produced by the WPT coil currents in the pacing leads of a CIED implanted in the same patient with the LVAD. To this aim, the next generation of wireless LVADs with transcutaneous WPT system is first described, and, then, used to predict the induced voltage by the WPT system on a CIED lead. The obtained results demonstrate as the proposed WPT system, tested in accordance with the ISO 14117 standard, does not interfere with other CIEDs.