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Self powered - Pacemakers and Implants

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  • 06-12-2003 12:34am
    #1
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,802 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    http://chem.ch.huji.ac.il/~eugeniik/biofuel/biofuel_cells4.html
    ... biofuel cell was made from two 7-µm-diameter, electrocatalyst-coated carbon fiber electrodes placed in 1-mm grooves machined into a polycarbonate support..... It has a power output of 600 nW at 37 °C, enough to power small silicon-based microelectronics.

    An important potential use of biofuel cells is their in situ assembly in human body fluids, e.g. blood. The extractable electrical power could then be used to activate implanted devices such as pacemakers, pumps (e.g. insulin pumps) and sensors or activate self-fueled prosthetic units.
    So small tranducers / bio monitors can be powered continuously - they simply use the glucose in the blood stream..


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    #2
    DriftingRain
    Closed Accounts Posts: 965 ✭✭✭DriftingRain


    they simply use the glucose in the blood stream..

    Seems a good idea...Would like to hear more on it's makings and testings...:D


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    #3
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,802 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Havn't looked it up since - too much "nanotechnology" is hype for compaines - but some of the batteries exist.

    There might also be a side benefit - one of the byproducts of anerobic respiration is CH3CH2OH


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    #4
    DriftingRain
    Closed Accounts Posts: 965 ✭✭✭DriftingRain


    one of the byproducts of anerobic respiration is CH3CH2OH

    This could be weird...A person presenting the symptoms of diabetes...Espically Uncontrolled Diabetes. This person may not at one time have enough glucose to sustain this type of device. Can the thing run off other elecrtolytes such as Na, K, or Cl. Given I would guess it couldn't run off Co2 as thats given off as a byproduct??

    This topic intrests me...

    /me goes off to google it!


    ~DR~


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    #5
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,802 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Even someone with diabetes would have some glucose in their blood. That is one advantage of nanotechnology you don't need much power or high voltages.

    AFAIK It uses enzymes from the Krebs cycle ( NADH etc.) to break down glucose (or similar) to release electrons. The energy comes from the breaking of the chemical bonds.

    Electolytes are different - they conduct electricity but being dissolved ions have no bonds to break.


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