This could be the battery-free solution for pacemakers

The supercapacitor invented by researchers from UCLA and the University of Connecticut could lead to pacemakers and other implantable medical devices that last a lifetime. [Image from Islam Mosa/University of Connecticut and Maher El-Kady/UCLA]

A new energy storage system charges itself using ions from inside the human body – providing an exciting alternative to traditional batteries used in pacemakers, according to researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Connecticut.

Researchers at the universities developed a bio-friendly energy storage system called a biological supercapacitor; it’s harmless to the biological systems in the body. The device could enable cardiac pacemakers and other implantable medical devices that last longer.

Pacemakers are small battery-powered devices that help the heart beat in a regular rhythm. They create electrical impulses that help stimulate the heart to beat, according to the American Heart Association. A pacemaker has a sensing mode that allows it to send impulses when the heartbeat is above a certain level and can fire when the heartbeat is too slow. However, the batteries need to be replaced after awhile, which forces the patient to undergo another surgery.

Get the full story on our sister site, Medical Design & Outsourcing.

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