Fluid-Solid Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Battery-Free Implant Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implantable and wearable cardiac electronic devices (CEDs) face limitations due to the need for bulky batteries with limited lifetimes, leading to frequent replacements that pose health risks and high therapy costs.
Innovation Solution
A power generation device utilizing a fluid-solid triboelectric nanogenerator that harvests energy from body fluids, such as blood, urine, or sweat, to power medical devices without the need for batteries, using conductive components and polymers or metals to induce charges from fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If bulky batteries are used to power implantable cardiac electronic devices, then the devices can function, but the device size increases and lifetime is limited requiring frequent replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the battery component from the implantable device system. Instead of using a battery to store and supply energy, the invention harvests energy continuously from the body's physiological processes (heartbeat, blood flow, respiration) through piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators integrated into the device structure, thereby removing the volume constraint imposed by batteries while enabling indefinite operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-powered operation where the device generates its own energy from the body's natural physiological movements. The piezoelectric materials convert mechanical stress from heartbeat and blood flow into electrical energy, and triboelectric nanogenerators harvest energy from relative motion between surfaces during respiration and cardiac cycles, allowing the device to sustain itself without external power sources or battery replacements
2Reliability
If batteries are used in implantable devices, then power supply is provided, but health risks increase due to content leakage and replacement surgeries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the battery component entirely from the implantable device, eliminating the source of toxic content leakage. The energy storage function is replaced by energy harvesting mechanisms that convert physiological mechanical energy into electrical energy, thereby removing the harmful factor of battery material leakage while maintaining reliable power supply
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the body's natural physiological movements (heartbeat, blood flow, respiration) which were previously just mechanical processes into beneficial energy sources. By integrating piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators, these inevitable bodily motions are transformed into electrical energy to power the device, turning the body's own mechanical energy into a protective feature that eliminates battery dependency
3Reliability
If solid-solid triboelectric generators are used, then energy can be harvested, but contact stability is insufficient compared to fluid-solid configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fluid (body fluids such as blood or interstitial fluid) into the triboelectric energy harvesting system. The fluid-solid triboelectric configuration utilizes the relative motion between the fluid and solid surfaces during physiological processes to generate stable electrical output. The fluid's ability to conform and maintain continuous contact improves the reliability of charge generation compared to solid-solid interfaces, while the overall device structure remains integrated and compact
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
Enables long-term, reliable power supply for medical devices, reducing health risks and therapy costs by eliminating battery replacements and toxic leaks, while improving durability and contact stability compared to solid TENGs.
Implementation Method 1
Triboelectric nanogenerators are energy harvesters that work on the basis of the triboelectric effect. The triboelectric effect refers to the phenomenon according to which dielectric materials (electrical insulators that can, e.g., upon electrical stimulation, be polarized, or that can, e.g., be spontaneously polarized) and/or their surfaces become electrically charged when they are in contact with another material of opposite tribopolarity.
Implementation Method 2
This induces a potential difference between the electrodes attached to the back of the materials and connected by an external circuit - electrostatic induction.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a power generation device for harvesting energy through a fluid-solid triboelectric nanogenerator from a flow of body fluid flowing through or past the power generation device. The power generation device comprises a solid component, on which surface charges are inducible, at least one conductive component is comprised by the solid component or fixed to the solid component, and an output unit for outputting power. The at least one conductive component is electrically connected to the output unit. The solid component is configured to be brought into contact with a body fluid flowing through or past the power generation device by implanting the power generation device within a living organism or by bringing the power generation device into contact with or into proximity of a living organism.