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The notion of using solar cells placed under the skin to continuously recharge implanted electronic medical devices is a viable one. Swiss researchers have done the math, and found that a 3.6 square centimeter solar cell is all that is needed to generate enough power during winter and summer to power a typical pacemaker. The study is the first to provide real-life data about the potential of using solar cells to power devices such as pacemakers and deep brain stimulators. According to lead author Lukas Bereuter of Bern University Hospital and the University of Bern in Switzerland, wearing power-generating solar cells under the skin will one day save patients the discomfort of having to continuously undergo procedures to change the batteries of such life-saving devices. The findings are set out in Springer's journal Annals of Biomedical Engineering.
Most electronic implants are currently battery powered, and their size is governed by the battery volume required for an extended lifespan. When the power in such batteries runs out, these must either be recharged or changed. In most cases this means that patients have to undergo implant replacement procedures, which is not only costly and stressful but also holds the risk of medical complications. Having to use primary batteries also influences the size of a device.
[...] To investigate the real-life feasibility of such rechargeable energy generators, Bereuter and his colleagues developed specially designed solar measurement devices that can measure the output power being generated. The cells were only 3.6 square centimeters in size, making them small enough to be implanted if needed. For the test, each of the ten devices was covered by optical filters to simulate how properties of the skin would influence how well the sun penetrates the skin. These were worn on the arm of 32 volunteers in Switzerland for one week during summer, autumn and winter.
No matter what season, the tiny cells were always found to generate much more than the 5 to 10 microwatts of power that a typical cardiac pacemaker uses. The participant with the lowest power output still obtained 12 microwatts on average.
Journal Reference:
L. Bereuter, S. Williner, F. Pianezzi, B. Bissig, S. Buecheler, J. Burger, R. Vogel, A. Zurbuchen, A. Haeberlin. Energy Harvesting by Subcutaneous Solar Cells: A Long-Term Study on Achievable Energy Output. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2017; DOI: 10.1007/s10439-016-1774-4
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @05:33PM
We don't need solar powered implants. The human body is a giant generator, battery and engine all in one. Figure out how to harvest energy from natural body movements, like via a microturbine in an aorta or the bending of a nanowire attached to a muscle. [mit.edu]
(Score: 2) by Username on Wednesday January 04 2017, @05:35PM
The way I see it is a thermocouple would be more beneficial since it just needs a living human to heat or cool it vs environment. Solar requires people to go outside or near a significant light source. Turbines need moving parts.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Wednesday January 04 2017, @07:06PM
A thermocouple would likely have to be mounted outside the body though since it draws power from the flow of heat through it from a hot to cool reservoir, and your body does its best to maintain everything within it at pretty much the same temperature. Also wouldn't work very well in locales that frequently hover around 98 degrees to begin with.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @09:45PM
Some parts of the body, especially a man's body, stay at a lower temperature than others.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday January 04 2017, @09:44PM
This.
Between the digestive system and the pulmonary system, there are plenty of places to harmlessly harvest mechanical energy.