The implants of today, such as pacemakers, require an external power source in order to function. This is, of course, uncomfortable for the users and also the reason why researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are trying to find a new method of powering gadgets that fit into our bodies. Such a revolutionary solution is by converting the energy of pulsing, continuously flexing muscles, into power for the implants, through nanowires. The heart is perfect for this job and scientists are hoping that one day we will be able to power up medical devices with our own heartbeats.

Until now, they have placed a nanowire inside a rat's body and they say that it is capable of creating electric current from the rodent's heart pulses. Utilizing piezoelectric energy, a zinc oxide nanowire produces electricity from mechanical stress. This method has been used in the past in order to create energy for various sensors, only this time, the wires are attached to our bodies.

The perfect symbiosis between man and gadget might be achieved one day, if multiple wires could be attached. The one tested right now can harvest about four picoamperes of current at two millivolts. In other words, it is not enough to keep you on the phone with your clients all day long.

This power output was achieved when the zinc oxide nanowire was attached to the rat's diaphragm and when the system was connected to the heart, scientists could harvest 30 picoamperes at 3 millivolts with the device. We should be optimistic regarding this technology, as the researchers are determined to develop a system capable of supporting certain medical implants.

These are usually low-power devices and so this revolutionary powering method may be closer than we think. Don't expect to power all your gadgets simply by breathing harder or by increasing your heartrate. A Snapdragon processor is not that easy to energize. The entire article is available on Technology Review.


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