10078920Galvani- An innovative wireless power solution for arti?cial heart pumps.ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKHeart failure (HF) is an increasingly common cardiac condition resulting from a reduced ability of the heart to pump blood around the body. Symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue, with reduced exercise capacity. While drug therapy is often effective, some patients with advanced heart failure may require a cardiac transplant. Demand for cardiac transplantation exceeds donor availability; indeed, only 4000 heart transplant operations are performed annually. In many cases, an electromechanical heart pump (left ventricular assist device, LVAD) may be implanted close to the patient's heart. These devices can be lifesaving but have a major drawback. Their high-power requirement necessitates a power cable (driveline) that passes through the patient's skin. This frequently becomes infected, requiring hospitalisation, prolonged antibiotic therapy, and surgical intervention. The driveline also significantly restricts the patient's daily activities and impairs their quality of life. Galvani Tech Ltd offers an innovative and patented wireless power solution for LVADs, capable of high-power transmission. Consisting of a set of small thin, and ?exible coils suitable for implanting beneath the skin, it will eliminate the driveline. Charging the LVAD's battery will occur at night when the patient is asleep using a lightweight charging vest. Hospital admission for driveline-related complications will, therefore, no longer be necessary. Patients will experience an improved quality of life, free from the restrictions and infection risk of a driveline. They will be able to participate in activities previously not possible such as swimming. They will enjoy a longer life without the fear of driveline-related complications. The reduction in costly hospital admissions will result in signi?cant healthcare savings.LVAD lifespan will be extended, and the number of patients considered suitable for treatment with an LVAD will increase. The Galvani platform has been developed at Ulster University. Our research programme to date has already shown the superiority of Galvani to earlier wireless power transmission techniques. We have demonstrated the capability of transmitting radiofrequency energy at high power levels sufficient to power LVADs without excessive skin heating. In conclusion, at the end of this one-year project, we will have optimised Galvani technology to a stage where we can fully engage with industry partners to advance commercialisation. We will develop a working Galvani prototype driving an LVAD for benchtop demonstration.