Implementation of a Dual Wireless Power Transfer and Rotation Monitoring System for Prosthetic Hands

This article presents the design, manufacture and test of an inductively coupled wireless power transfer (WPT) system used as a power source for prosthetic hands. Prosthetic hands are the most common artificial limbs among the physically disabled population. Limited storage capacity of the battery places severe limitations regarding the continuous use of this device. A WPT link is therefore proposed to supply power to such devices. The WPT system consists of a transmitter circuit (class-E power amplifier) and WPT coils along with commercially available receiver circuit and multiple motors. Assessment of the unwanted heating of the human tissue due to wireless power transfer was simulated using the commercial electromagnetic simulator ANSYS HFSS (TM). Results were experimentally validated by measuring in real-time temperature variations inside a phantom mimicking the properties of human muscle. Monitoring and control the rotation of the prosthetic hand was also demonstrated utilizing rotation-dependent wireless power transfer parameters. The WPT scheme proposed serves therefore the dual property of providing power to the prosthetic limb whilst monitoring the wrist rotation.