# Heart-Powered Medical Devices Nanowire Generators Could Let Patients' Hearts Run Implants By Katie Cordrey | Published 2010-06-06 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heart-powered-medical-devices References: [technologyreview](http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25473/?a=f) & [treehugger](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/06/powering-medical-devices-with-your-organs.php) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fourth-frontier-x2). Two materials, zinc oxide and PZT, are contenders, but lead in PZT would require some sort of [biocompatible polymer](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/helical-diodes), whereas zinc oxide is biocompatible without encasing. The larger challenge is getting higher power outputs from either of the materials. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 11% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Heart-powered Devices:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in developing medical devices powered by a patient's own heart or lungs. - **Nanowire Generators:** Opportunity to advance nanowire technology for generating power in medical devices. - **Biocompatible Materials:** Opportunity to explore biocompatible polymers for powering medical devices using zinc oxide or PZT. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Medical Devices:** Potential to revolutionize the medical device industry by enabling devices to be powered by the human body. - **Materials Science:** Possible disruptive innovation in materials science to develop biocompatible materials for powering medical devices. - **Energy Harvesting:** Opportunity to leverage advancements in energy harvesting technologies for medical device applications. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Stretchable Sweat-Activated Yarn Batteries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yarn-battery.md) - [Wearable Ultrasound Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wearable-ultrasound.md) - [Efficient Energy Harvesting Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/efficient-energy-harvesting.md) - [Synthetic Fiber Heart Valves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wyss-institute.md) - [Kinetic Power Health Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mother-bracelet.md) - [User-Powered Health Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bheart.md) - [Advanced Cardiac Treatment Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardiac-treatment-technology.md) - [Advanced Heart-Tracking Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultrasound-patch.md) - [Rapid Cardiac Protein Sensors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wrist-sensor.md)