China invents breathing-powered pacemaker generator

[TaiShang]

China invents breathing-powered pacemaker generator

BEIJING, Aug. 5 -Xinhua

Chinese scientists have developed a nanogenerator that can power acardiac pacemaker with electricity generated by a patient's breathing.

The nanogenerator system developed by the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy andNanosystems includes an implantable nanogenerator and an energy conversion andstorage device, according to an announcement Monday on the Chinese Academy ofSciences website.

The nanogenerator is 12 millimeters long, 12 millimeters wide and 0.7 millimeter thick.

The self-powered system harvests energy from breathing movements and stores theenergy in the form of electricity to drive the pacemaker, according to the institute.

Pacemakers have long been limited by their lack of a long-term supply of electricity, ascurrent implanted devices are mainly powered by batteries.

Once the batteries run out, patients face more surgery and heavy costs.

The Institute said the invention will break the bottleneck and greatly extend the servicelife of medical devices in the field.

 

[terranMarine]

nice

 

[cirr]

Scientists demonstrate triboelectric generation in Beijing

2014-03-20 14:25XinhuaWeb Editor:Wang YuXia

A scientist demonstrates triboelectric generation by rubbing gloves made from nylon and terylene materials at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems under Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, March 18, 2014. The institute showed their latest research results on triboelectric generators here on Tuesday. This technology could convert random mechanical energy from our environment into electric energy. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A scientist speaks to a device capturing acoustic waves and coverting them into electric signals during a demonstration on triboelectric generation at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems under Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, March 18, 2014. The institute showed their latest research results on triboelectric generators here on Tuesday. This technology could convert random mechanical energy from our environment into electric energy. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A scientist blows a device that could harvest electric current during a demonstration on triboelectric generation at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems under Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, March 18, 2014. The institute showed their latest research results on triboelectric generators here on Tuesday. This technology could convert random mechanical energy from our environment into electric energy. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Academician Wang Zhonglin gives an introduction on triboelectric generator at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems under Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, March 18, 2014. The institute showed their latest research results on triboelectric generators here on Tuesday. This technology could convert random mechanical energy from our environment into electric energy. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A scientist stands on a device that could generate power by piezoelectric effect during a demonstration on triboelectric generation at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems under Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, March 18, 2014. The institute showed their latest research results on triboelectric generators here on Tuesday. This technology could convert random mechanical energy from our environment into electric energy. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A scientist shakes a red ball hidden in a round container to produce electric current during a demonstration on triboelectric generation at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems under Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, March 18, 2014. The institute showed their latest research results on triboelectric generators here on Tuesday. This technology could convert random mechanical energy from our environment into electric energy. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)