An implantable, battery-free pacemaker that’s charged by a patient’s heartbeat has the potential to last an entire lifetime, researchers have said.
Most pacemakers need to be changed every 5 to 15 years. As the battery is permanently sealed inside the pulse generator box, replacing it requires swapping out the generator itself, though the wire leads connected to the heart usually stay in place.
University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers believe their new device could make these procedures unnecessary, helping to reduce the associated risks and costs.
“For a device like this, it’s not just about producing energy. Power density is the most important part. You need to get enough power in a small enough volume,” said Xudong Wang, a professor of materials science who oversaw the research. “With our technology, we achieved a power output density an order of magnitude higher than previous nanogenerators.”
In 2016, a device known as the intracardiac pacemaker entered the market – a small device...