Wireless Charger Implanted Under Skin Powers Medical Devices and Dissolves Afterwards: Invented by Scientists1
Wireless Charger for Bioelectronic Devices Under the Skin
The capacity of onboard batteries often poses limitations for many bioelectronic devices, including sensors and drug-delivery systems. Furthermore, connecting these devices to an external power supply can introduce the risk of infection, particularly when surgical procedures are required for component removal or replacement.
In a significant stride towards overcoming these challenges, scientists have developed a prototype Wireless Charger chip designed for embedding under the skin. In experimental trials conducted on rats, this prototype demonstrated the capability to either wirelessly transmit energy throughout the body or harvest energy directly from the body itself.
This innovation holds the potential to revolutionize the field, offering a solution that eliminates the need for bulky batteries and external wiring in medical implants. If successfully applied in humans, it could pave the way for more efficient and safer bioelectronic devices, marking a notable advancement in medical technology.Prototype Wireless Charger Chip for Bioelectronic Devices, Tested in Rats, Offers Alternatives to Onboard Batteries.
This innovation is particularly promising for bioelectronic devices like sensors and drug-delivery systems, which often face limitations due to the constraints of onboard batteries. Additionally, these devices are sometimes connected to external power supplies, posing a risk of infection, especially if surgical intervention is required for removal or replacement.
The breakthrough involves a prototype Wireless Charger chip designed to be inserted under the skin. In experimental trials conducted on rats, this chip demonstrated the ability to transfer energy Wireless Charger throughout the body or harness energy directly from the body itself.
The potential applications of such technology in humans could be groundbreaking. If successfully implemented, medical implants could operate without the need for cumbersome batteries and external wiring, leading to more efficient and streamlined solutions for patients. This development aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance the functionality and safety of bioelectronic devices, opening up new possibilities in the field of medical technology.
Our prototype power supply system marks a significant stride in propelling various biodegradable implantable medical devices forward, offering the potential for efficient and dependable energy solutions,” said Wei Lan, a professor of electronics in the School of Physical Science and Technology at Lanzhou University in China, and co-author of the study, in an email to Live Science.
The innovative power supply prototype employs a magnesium coil that undergoes charging when a second coil is positioned above the skin. The power then traverses through a circuit before entering an energy-storage module crafted from zinc-ion hybrid capacitors. This breakthrough technology showcases the promise of enhancing the performance of biodegradable medical implants, presenting an avenue for more sustainable and effective energy solutions in the realm of medical device innovation.
Diverging from traditional batteries that store energy in chemical form, these supercapacitors harness power in the form of electrical energy. Despite storing less energy per unit compared to batteries, supercapacitors exhibit a high power density, enabling them to discharge a substantial amount of energy rapidly.
The researchers incorporated this groundbreaking prototype into a biodegradable, chip-like implant that seamlessly integrated energy harvesting and storage. When connected to a medical implant, the power flowed directly through the circuit to the device and into the capacitor, ensuring a consistent power supply.
In rat experiments, the Wireless Charger mplant functioned effectively for up to 10 days and completely dissolved within two months, showcasing its biodegradable nature. The potential for an extended lifespan exists if the protective layers, composed of polymer and wax, encapsulating the system are fortified, according to Lan.
Furthermore, the researchers evaluated the wireless charger’s capability as a drug-delivery system by administering anti-inflammatory medicine to rats with a fever. After 12 hours, rats without implants exhibited significantly higher body temperatures than those with the chips, indicating the successful delivery of the medicine by the device.
A cutting-edge Wireless Charger device has been created by scientists, designed to be implanted under the skin for charging bioelectronic devices within the body. Initial tests in rodents have yielded promising results, and if similar success is achieved in human trials, it could revolutionize medical implants by eliminating the need for cumbersome batteries and wiring.
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