New Life-Saving Devices Developed to Self-Charge Using Heart Motion

Understanding Heart Arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmia, characterized by an irregular heartbeat, occurs when the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or in an irregular pattern. This condition affects millions of Canadians and can lead to sudden cardiac death, claiming nearly 40,000 adult lives each year. Various factors contribute to arrhythmias, including high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, congenital heart defects, smoking, and stress. Common signs of arrhythmias include an irregular heartbeat, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and feelings of weakness.

The Role of Pacemakers

Pacemakers are small, implantable devices designed to regulate heart rhythms through electrical stimulation. According to the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, around 200,000 Canadians rely on pacemakers or implantable defibrillators. These devices are typically implanted beneath the skin and powered by batteries that require replacement every five to eight years. However, battery replacements necessitate additional surgeries, which can be costly and carry risks such as complications and infections.

Innovative Self-Charging Pacemakers

In a groundbreaking study funded by the National Institutes of Health, engineers and clinicians from UT Health San Antonio have developed a method for self-charging implantable devices using the mechanical motion of the heart. By employing a specialized polymer thin film, the researchers created a dual-cantilever that wraps around the pacemaker lead, with free ends designed to capture energy from heart movement. Their findings were published in Advanced Materials Technologies.

Under various working configurations, the team successfully harvested electrical powers of 0.5 V and 43 nA from slow mechanical motions at 1 Hz. Remarkably, these devices may also function as sensors, enabling real-time patient monitoring.

Future Implications

This innovation holds the potential to extend the lifespan and effectiveness of implantable biomedical devices like pacemakers and defibrillators. The researchers have recently received regulatory approval for commercialization, and these life-saving devices are anticipated to be available on the market soon.

Author Information

Written by Man-tik Choy, Ph.D.

Reference

Dong, L. et al. Flexible Porous Piezoelectric Cantilever on a Pacemaker Lead for Compact Energy Harvesting. Advanced Materials Technologies, 2019; 4: 1800148. DOI: 10.1002/admt.20180014.