Implantable Biofuel Cell Architecture for Self-Charging Medical Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices, particularly those for spinal cord stimulation, face challenges in obtaining a reliable and sustainable energy source, as they rely on implanted batteries that require recharging and are difficult to miniaturize, leading to the need for additional surgeries.
Innovation Solution
The development of implantable biofuel cells that can extract energy from biological fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, using anode and cathode assemblies with functionalization materials and catalytic substances, allowing for self-charging medical devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implanted batteries are used to power medical devices, then the devices can operate reliably, but the devices require recharging and additional surgeries for battery replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The biofuel cell enables the medical device to power itself by harvesting energy from the patient's own biological fluids (glucose, lactate, or other metabolites). The fuel cell continuously converts chemical energy from these endogenous substrates into electrical energy, eliminating the need for external recharging or battery replacement surgeries while maintaining reliable operation.
2Volume of moving object
If traditional batteries are miniaturized for implantable devices, then the device size is reduced, but the batteries become difficult to miniaturize further
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical/chemical battery system with a bioelectrochemical fuel cell system. This substitution allows for continuous energy generation from biological fluids rather than relying on finite battery capacity, enabling smaller form factors without the manufacturing constraints that limit further battery miniaturization.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If fuel cells are used to extract energy from biological fluids, then sustainable power is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biofuel cell is designed to accept multiple types of biological fuel substrates (glucose, lactate, and other metabolites) through non-specific enzymatic or catalytic mechanisms. This multi-functionality allows the device to harness energy from various endogenous sources in the biological fluid, providing sustained power while simplifying the overall system design compared to substrate-specific approaches.
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 biofuel cells effectively harvest energy from biological fluids, providing a sustainable power source for medical devices, reducing the need for battery replacements and minimizing invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a functionalization material includes a catalyst to facilitate conversion of a substance in the biological fluid to a first product in an oxidative process that releases electrons captured at the first electrode
Implementation Method 2
a catalytic material to reduce an oxygenated substance in the biological fluid to a second product in a chemical reduction process in which the second product gains electrons
Implementation Method 3
a fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy from a substance (e.g., referred to as a fuel) into electrical energy (e.g., electricity). Generally, the energy conversion includes a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for implantable biofuel cells. In some aspects, a biofuel cell device for extracting energy from a biological fluid includes a substrate including two compartments each with one or more openings; an anode assembly disposed in the substrate and including an anode electrode and functionalization material to facilitate an oxidative process that releases electrons captured at the anode electrode; and a cathode assembly disposed in the substrate separated from the anode assembly and including a catalytic material facilitate a chemical reduction process such that the biofuel cell device extracts electrical energy from the substance in the biological fluid.