A near-field wireless power transfer (WPT) system for implantable medical devices such as pacemakers is proposed. Operating at 403 MHz within the Medical Implants Communication Service (MICS) band, the WPT link constitutes a primary loop to be based outside the body as a transmitter and an implantable loop with a single turn as a receiver. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed link offers good power transfer efficiency performance. The maximum measured power transfer efficiency of the proposed link is 57.9% at a transfer distance of 6 mm through 1 mm of air and 5 mm of body tissue. The maximum input power that can be supplied to stay within specific absorption rate safety guidelines is 159 mW. A rectifying circuit is designed to convert 403 MHz RF signals to DC for a 1.5 kΩ load with a measured conversion efficiency of 73.2%. The measured end-to-end power transfer efficiency of the proposed wireless power transfer system is 42.4%.
