Organ-Powered Medical Implants

Jan-24-14 A team of researchers have developed an implantable piezoelectric strip that could allow implanted medical devices to be powered by the body’s own organs.

The device, which must be implanted via surgery, is made up of lead zirconate titanate nanoribbons encased in a biocompatible plastic along with a rectifier to convert the electrical signals and a tiny, rechargeable battery. Placing the device on an organ in constant movement, such as the heart, lungs or diaphragm, will cause the nanoribbons to bend and produce electricity—enough to power a pacemaker, as tests on volunteer cows have demonstrated. Human clinical trials are still some time in the future.

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