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Phoenix666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

Researchers at the Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía (Technological Institute of Energy, ITE) are developing a bio-battery that uses blood glucose to produce energy [phys.org]. Such a battery would cut down on the number of surgical interventions a pacemaker user must endure.

Current batteries are hard-wearing and work well for implants that do not require much energy. However, when they run out, the patient must undergo surgery to replace them. Even devices that do not use much electricity, like pacemakers, have a limited useful life given this dependence on batteries.

The challenge of research in this area lies in developing electrodes made from materials that are compatibile with the human body and able to oxidise blood glucose and convert it into fuel.

Using glucose to fuel implants is not bad, but using lipids would make the inventor a trillionaire.

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