Dr. Sima Noghanian of Antennas and Propagation Society

Wireless power transfer has emerged as a transformative technology. Traditionally, biomedical devices use batteries as a power source. Therefore, every battery replacement requires surgery. The concept of seamlessly delivering power within the human body through implanted coils and antennas has opened a new frontier in healthcare, enabling the development of innovative medical devices and systems.

Some applications of implanted wireless power transfer technology include implantable medical sensors, monitoring devices, drug delivery systems, and neurostimulators. The implanted coils and antennas ensure these medical devices function optimally without the need for invasive procedures for battery replacement or recharging.

When it comes to wireless power transfer, there are two major methods used in implanted devices. One is magnetic field coupling, which uses coils, and the second method involves electromagnetic waves transferred through antennas. The development of these components demands careful consideration of factors such as miniaturization, biocompatibility, and efficient power transfer over varying distances and orientations within the human body. Magnetic coupling offers high power transfer efficiency but is limited by the depth at which power can be effectively transferred. Beyond a certain depth, efficiency drops significantly. Radiative power transfer via electromagnetic waves can transfer power over larger distances, but its efficiency may become very low.

An interesting research topic is how to take advantage of both methods to extend the range of power transfer while optimizing power transfer efficiency. Another primary focus in this field is the development of safe and efficient systems that comply with safety regulations. Particularly, the regulated levels of exposure in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) are critical considerations in the design and implementation of these technologies. To improve power transfer efficiency, careful modeling and simulation of these devices is essential, as well as rigorous testing in phantom and laboratory environments. This talk aims to explore some of these topics, considering the significance, challenges, and potential of wireless power transfer technology for implanted devices.

Biography:

Sima Noghanian is currently a Distinguished Hardware Engineer at CommScope Ruckus Networks. She is also an Antenna/RF consultant with Neuspera Medical Inc and StrokeDx. Dr. Noghanian received a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba in 2001, and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, which she took at the University of Waterloo. From 2002 to 2018 she served as an Electrical Engineering faculty in: the Sharif University of Technology, Iran (2002), the University of Manitoba, Canada (2003-2008), and the University of North Dakota, USA (2008 – 2018). She also served as the Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of North Dakota (2014 – 2016). She was an Electromagnetic Application Engineer with PADT Inc. (2019 – 2020) and a Principal Antenna Design Engineer at Wafer LLC (2020 – 2021).

Dr. Noghanian is a senior member of IEEE, a fellow of the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES), and a senior member of URSI Commissions B and K. Dr. Noghanian currently serves as the Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, IET Microwave, Antennas and Propagation, Frontiers in Antennas and Propagation. and as an area editor for the Elsevier International Journal of Electronics and Communications. She is a member of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Administration Committee (2023-2025), Chair of the Technical Committee on Antenna Measurement (TCAM), Vice Chair of AP-S Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Chair of USNC-URSI Commission K, and Vice President of ACES. She is an AP-S Distinguished Lecturer (2024-2026).

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