I was always fascinated by electric and hybrid electric vehicles that created/captured their own energy from the heat generated by using the brakes. It's a circular system in that regard. A very clever way to recycle energy within the machine.
These new implantable pacemakers are similar – they capture energy from the body's own beating heart.
The technology is still new, but it could be a game-changer for these devices in the future. Today's pacemakers are designed with either a built-in battery that can last between 6-15 years, or they require wires that attach to a tiny generator that is also implanted into the body. Either way, maintenance is a concern and not a very convenient process.
If these new pacemakers are self-sustaining by capturing the tiny bit of energy needed from the body's own organs it would be a great advancement for both pacemakers and patients.
A new experimental pacemaker has been able to convert a heartbeat’s energy back into electrical power that recharges the battery. Though the research is in early stages, it could pave the way to a future where pacemaker batteries are recharged with a heartbeat.
unknownx500
