A dual-mode highly efficient class-E stimulator controlled by a low-Q class-E power amplifier through duty cycle

IEEE Trans Biomed Circuits Syst. 2013 Jun;7(3):243-55. doi: 10.1109/TBCAS.2012.2205245.

Abstract

This paper presents the design flow of two high-efficiency class-E amplifiers for the implantable electrical stimulation system. The implantable stimulator is a high-Q class-E driver that delivers a sine-wave pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation, which was verified to have a superior efficacy in pain relief to a square wave. The proposed duty-cycle-controlled class-E PRF driver designed with a high-Q factor has two operational modes that are able to achieve 100% DC-AC conversion, and involves only one switched series inductor and an unchanged parallel capacitor. The measured output amplitude under low-voltage (LV) mode using a 22% duty cycle was 0.98 V with 91% efficiency, and under high-voltage (HV) mode using a 47% duty cycle was 2.95 V with 92% efficiency. These modes were inductively controlled by a duty-cycle detector, which can detect the duty-cycle modulated signal generated from the external complementary low-Q class-E power amplifier (PA). The design methodology of the low-Q inductive interface for a non-50% duty cycle is presented. The experimental results exhibits that the 1.5-V PA that consumes DC power of 14.21 mW was able to deliver a 2.9-V sine wave to a 500 Ω load. The optimal 60% drain efficiency of the system from the PA to the load was obtained at a 10-mm coupling distance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amplifiers, Electronic*
  • Animals
  • Electric Capacitance
  • Electric Power Supplies
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy / instrumentation*
  • Electrodes, Implanted*
  • Equipment Design
  • Hyperalgesia
  • Myelin Sheath / pathology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Pain Management
  • Pain Measurement
  • Radio Waves
  • Rats
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Temperature
  • Wireless Technology