Georgia Tech professor of materials science and engineering Zhong Lin Wang is leading studies that may lead to heart-powered medical devices. If materials problems can be worked out, nanowire generators could allow medical devices to powered by a patient’s own heart or lungs.
Two materials, zinc oxide and PZT, are contenders, but lead in PZT would require some sort of biocompatible polymer, whereas zinc oxide is biocompatible without encasing. The larger challenge is getting higher power outputs from either of the materials.
Heart-Powered Medical Devices
Nanowire Generators Could Let Patients' Hearts Run Implants
Trend Themes
1. Heart-powered Devices - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in developing medical devices powered by a patient's own heart or lungs.
2. Nanowire Generators - Opportunity to advance nanowire technology for generating power in medical devices.
3. Biocompatible Materials - Opportunity to explore biocompatible polymers for powering medical devices using zinc oxide or PZT.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Devices - Potential to revolutionize the medical device industry by enabling devices to be powered by the human body.
2. Materials Science - Possible disruptive innovation in materials science to develop biocompatible materials for powering medical devices.
3. Energy Harvesting - Opportunity to leverage advancements in energy harvesting technologies for medical device applications.