Pacemaker: the heart should generate the electricity itself

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MunichPacemakers save lives. The catch on the electrical clocks in the chest: If your battery runs out, an operation is necessary. That could soon change: Researchers want to use the movements of the heart to generate the necessary energy.

Mini generators provide electricity

The particular challenge of the new technology: The mini-generators required for this must generate enough electricity, but must not make the work of the organs more difficult. To this end, the team led by John A. Rogers from the University of Illinois developed completely new types of equipment. They are based on extremely thin threads made of so-called lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which has special electromagnetic properties. If the threads are deformed, an electrical voltage is created - this effect is called piezoelectricity. The threads are encased in a biocompatible material. Arranged flat next to each other, they work together to generate energy.

Ultra flexible material

The best place for small power generators: the heart itself. "It's a perfect place to generate mechanical energy because it is constantly in motion," explains Rogers, head of the study. For their experiments, the researchers attached the mini-generators flat to the outer wall of the heart. In addition, the pumping movements of the muscle cause the PZT threads in the devices to be constantly bent and straightened again - thus generating electricity. "To ensure that the work of the heart is not impaired, the devices used would have to be ultra-flexible," says the researcher.

In a first step, the scientists applied living heart muscle cells from rats to the devices in the laboratory. In this way they were able to ensure that the energy suppliers did not emit any toxic substances. They tested the resilience of the devices by bending them 20 million times and returning them to their original position.

Charged batteries

Only then did the scientists implant the energy generators directly on the hearts, lungs and diaphragms of pigs, sheep and cows. In this way they managed to generate enough energy to power a pacemaker.

However, the matter is not completely free of risks: "We know that the devices work, but we have no long-term experience with them," explains Rogers. He doesn't think there will be any problems. Corresponding tests would still have to ensure this. A potential risk would be, for example, that the cladding of the lead-zirconate-titanate structures could leak. In that case, there would be a poisonous material on the heart. (cf)

Source: John A. Rogers ,: Conformal piezoelectric energy harvesting and storage from motions of the heart, lung, and diaphragm

Tags:  palliative medicine teeth gpp