Feedback control of TET system with variable coupling coefficients for a novel artificial anal sphincter

Abstract

For treating severe faecal incontinence, the authors developed an intelligent artificial anal sphincter system (AASS) equipped with a feedback sensor that utilized a transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS). To deliver the correct amount of power (i.e. to match the load demand under variable coupling conditions caused by changes in positioning between the coils due to fitting and changes in posture), a regulating method to stabilize output voltage with a closed loop variable-frequency controller was developed in this paper. The method via which the voltage gain characteristics of a voltage-fed series-tuned TETS were derived is also described. The theoretical analysis was verified by the results of the experiment. A numerical analysis method was used as a control rule with respect to the relationship between operating frequency and output voltage. To validate the feedback control rules, a prototype of the TET charging system was constructed, and its performance was validated with the coupling variation between 0.12–0.42. The results show that the output voltage of the secondary side can be maintained at a constant 7 V across the whole coupling coefficient range, with a switching frequency regulation range of 271.4–320.5 kHz, and the proposed controller has reached a maximal end-to-end power efficiency of 67.5% at 1 W.

• Artificial anal sphincter
• closed-loop control
• faecal incontinence
• variable coupling coefficient
• transcutaneous energy transfer

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge with appreciation the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31170968).