humans are complicated A machine with moving parts that bends, crushes, stretches, flows, vibrates, and strikes. Scientists are now trying to connect to these energy sources to solve a common problem that plagues sensors, wearables, and implantable medical devices: the dreaded dead battery.
Devices that are self-powered by design could be the solution, and researchers have discovered that the human body itself can be a convenient power source. This comes just in time to power the exploding wearables market. As “Electroceuticals” begin to challenge pharmaceuticals, more people will rely on devices such as implantable electrostimulators and pacemakers to stay healthy.
“Bio-batteries” and energy scavenging make these devices energy autonomous, eliminating the need for invasive surgery to replace dead batteries. As a bonus, in this wireless world, you can avoid having an embedded charging cable come loose or become infected.
Scientists have been working on body-powered devices since the early 2000s, but until now the technology has required too much energy for the tiny amounts of power harvested from humans. . But after 20 years of progress, today’s devices consume far less energy, opening the door to countless ideas and prototypes that draw power from people.
cellular power station
Your cells are basically batteries, biochemicals that convert sugar fuel into energy. Harnessing this living power source by collecting. CELTRO’s first product is a small autonomous pacemaker. “A muscle, like the heart, starts contracting at some point and propagates throughout the heart muscle,” says CEO and co-founder Gerd Teepe. “Our idea was to collect energy at multiple points to take advantage of this avalanche effect.” Monitor and provide an auxiliary electrical boost to restore pacing if necessary. In 2021, CELTRO has raised seed funding for lab-based proof-of-concept research.
paper fuel cell
French startup BeFC is developing an eco-friendly bio-battery. Its fuel cells use layers of carbon, cellulose and glucose, plus a sprinkle of proprietary enzymes. Adding a drop of liquid, such as blood or urine, initiates a reaction that generates electricity. Paper patches could power disposable diagnostic devices and continuous monitoring sensors, such as glucose monitoring kits for diabetics. After use, the cells can also be composted. This is unlike other small batteries that end up in the bin or incinerated. BeFC is currently raising Series A funding and plans to bring its first products to market in 2024.
trembling heart
Paris-based CAIRDAC designs pacemakers powered by the heart itself. The leadless pacemaker is packed in a capsule that contains a piezoelectric energy harvester—a pendulum that swings with heartbeat, blood flow, and vibration. The vibrations are converted into electricity and stored until the device senses that the heart needs a shock to reset its rhythm. The startup recently raised €17 million (about $18.3 million) in Series A funding to continue preclinical trials and move into human trials.
interior lighting
Solar panels are becoming a common household sight and may soon shed light on medical technology as well. Researchers at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, have found that solar panels placed under the skin can still generate up to 10% more power than direct sunlight. This is enough to power an ultra-low consumption sensor. A few hours in the sun, he can run the embedded temperature sensor 24 hours a day. Researchers say the best place is between your neck and shoulders.
heart of hydro
According to researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland, mini-turbines can harness blood flow and turn it into electricity. They designed a torpedo-shaped turbine that could be implanted in the blood vessels of the heart, much like a hydroelectric power plant, to generate electricity from the bloodstream. A major unresolved issue is how to avoid thrombi forming in the blades of the turbine, but in laboratory simulations the turbine powers a commercially available leadless pacemaker. generated enough energy to
piezo patch
Italian startup PiezoSkin says it has developed an ultra-thin piezo electro-skin patch that can simultaneously measure movement and draw power from it. One study used patches to monitor neck movements in people with dysphagia or difficulty swallowing, while the company’s biocompatible film harnesses power from other body movements and vibrations for sensors and wearables. You can also obtain
feel the heat
Humans radiate about 100 watts of heat energy per day, and this heat could be harnessed to power wearable biosensors and implantable devices, according to Swiss startup Mithras. The company’s thermoelectric generator, known as TEG, uses the temperature difference between the body and the environment to generate electricity. Mithras estimates that a difference of 5 degrees Celsius would allow his 12-square-centimeter TEG skin patch to fully power a cochlear implant.
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2023 issue of WIRED UK Magazine.
