Biodegradable Implantable Battery with Non-Toxic Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices often require replacement due to finite battery life, and removal of these devices can be challenging due to fibrous tissue formation, necessitating a biodegradable power source that is non-toxic and can be safely absorbed by the body.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable battery design featuring an anode and cathode with a permeable membrane, where the anode degrades through electrochemical oxidation and the cathode is protected, resulting in non-toxic reaction products, with a biodegradable coating or hydrogel layer to control exposure and degradation, allowing for safe absorption by the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealed case made from noble metal is used to protect the battery, then the battery is protected from degradation and toxic byproducts are prevented, but the device cannot be safely absorbed by the body and requires surgical removal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the noble metal sealed case from the battery design and replaces it with biodegradable materials. The battery components (anode, cathode, electrolyte, and housing) are all designed to be biodegradable, eliminating the need for a permanent sealed case and allowing the entire device to be safely absorbed by the body after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters of the battery components from non-biodegradable noble metals to biodegradable materials such as magnesium, zinc, iron, calcium, and biodegradable polymers. This parameter change enables the battery to degrade safely in the body while maintaining protective functions during operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the battery is designed to be biodegradable, then the device can be safely absorbed by the body, but the battery may degrade before providing sufficient power
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies biodegradable coatings to the battery components before implantation. These coatings serve as a preliminary protective layer that controls the degradation rate, preventing premature degradation while enabling safe absorption after the battery has fulfilled its power supply function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses different biodegradable materials with different degradation rates for different battery components. The anode, cathode, electrolyte, and housing are all designed with specific material compositions that control their degradation behavior, allowing the battery to maintain structural integrity during operation while ensuring safe absorption afterward.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the cathode is exposed to the body environment, then the battery can function, but the cathode material may produce toxic byproducts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the cathode material from traditional non-biodegradable materials to biodegradable materials such as manganese dioxide, iron oxide, or biodegradable polymers. These materials are selected specifically because they degrade into non-toxic byproducts when exposed to the body environment, eliminating the harmful effects associated with traditional cathode materials.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The battery provides a reliable power source for implantable devices, with controlled degradation and non-toxic byproducts, reducing the need for device replacement and simplifying removal by ensuring safe absorption, thus addressing the limitations of existing power sources.
Implementation Method 1
an electrochemically degradable anode and a cathode separated by a permeable membrane wherein electrochemical oxidation of the anode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic
Implementation Method 2
electrochemical reduction of the cathode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic
Implementation Method 3
the inner surface of the cathode being separated from the inner surface of the anode by a permeable membrane in direct fluid contact with the aqueous environment in the body
Data Source
AI summary
A biodegradable battery is provided. The battery includes an anode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein electrochemical oxidation of the anode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic and a cathode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the cathode being in direct physical contact with the inner surface of the anode, wherein electrochemical reduction of the cathode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic, and wherein the cathode material presents a larger standard reduction potential than the anode material.