Tune In, Turn On, Power Up
Human beings don’t come with power sockets, but a growing numbers of us have medical implants that run off electricity. To keep our bionic body parts from powering down, a group of Arizona researchers is developing a safe, noninvasive, and efficient means of wireless power transmission through body tissue. The team presents their findings at the 166th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, held Dec. 2 – 6 in San Francisco, Calif.
Medical implants treat a variety of conditions such as chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, deep brain tremors, heart rhythm disturbances, and nerve and muscle disorders. If the batteries in the devices lose their charge, minor surgery is needed to replace them, causing discomfort, introducing the risk of infection, and increasing the cost of treatment.
This is a scenario the Arizona researchers are aiming to change.
Their novel wireless power approach is based on piezoelectric generation of ultrasound. The Greek root, “piezo”, means “squeeze.” In piezoelectrical systems, materials are squeezed or stressed to produce a voltage. In turn, applied voltages can cause compression or extension. Piezoelectric materials have specific crystalline structures. The team’s piezoelectric system has been tested in animal tissue with encouraging results.
“The goal of this approach is wireless power transmission to human implantable power generators (IPGs),” explained lead researcher Leon J. Radziemski of Tucson-based Piezo Energy Technologies. “Charging experiments were performed on 4.1 Volt medical-grade lithium-ion batteries. Currents of 300 milliamperes (mA) have been delivered across tissue depths of up to 1.5 centimeters. At depths of 5 centimeters, 20 mA were delivered. Currents such as these can service most medical-grade rechargeable batteries.”
With Dr. Inder Makin, an experienced ultrasound researcher, the team has tested the device in pigs to demonstrate safe charging over several hours of ultrasound exposure. The system works like this: A source such as a wall plug or battery powers the transmitter. Ultrasound passes from the transmitter through the intervening tissue to the implanted IPG housing the piezoelectric receiver. After positioning the transmitter, the patient can control the procedure from a hand-held device that communicates with the implant. When charging is complete, the implant signals this and turns off the transmitter.
Wireless recharging transmission has been tried before using a different technology, electromagnetic recharging. Given the proliferation of battery-powered medical implanted therapies, the Radziemski team sees an emerging and expanding need for increased rechargeable power options.
“Ultrasound rechargeable batteries can extend the time between replacements considerably, reducing health care costs and patient concerns,” Radziemski said. The next step involves further testing and development in hopes of commercializing the technology within two to five years.
The Latest on: Wirelessly Recharging Batteries
- Charge up to six devices simultaneously with this successfully Indiegogo-funded power bank, further on saleon May 2, 2024 at 6:00 am
Charge your gadgets using the Flash Pro Plus 100W USB-C 25000mAh Graphene Power Bank, now further on sale for $199.97.
- Wireless charging highway will charge ‘vehicle as it’s moving at 65 mph’on May 1, 2024 at 10:33 pm
Older-model electric vehicles, or EVs, would need to be retrofitted with receivers to receive the charge ... the batteries are heavy, they’re expensive, and they don’t provide enough range,” Kresse ...
- WiBotic unveils new high power wireless charging solutionon May 1, 2024 at 2:21 am
WiBotic unveiled a new, larger 1kW charger, expanding its portfolio to provide wireless charging for larger battery systems.
- Apple's New Beats Solo Buds Are Dirt Cheap and Have a Long Battery Lifeon April 30, 2024 at 3:15 pm
Apple announced two new offerings to its Beats line of headphones and earbuds. The Beats Solo Buds are a pair of true wireless earphones that promise up to 18 hours of battery life, while the Beats ...
- The Best Wireless Chargers In 2024on April 30, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Belkin Quick Charge Wireless Charging Pad Best Overall Wireless Charger $19 at Walmart ...
- Here’s how EVs charge as they drive on a stretch of Michigan roadon April 30, 2024 at 8:30 am
As detailed in a recent CleanTechnica explainer, the Michigan Department of Transportation is demonstrating in-road wireless charging hardware from Electreon on a quarter-mile stretch of 14th Street ...
- Beats announces Solo Buds, $80 wireless earbuds with 18-hour battery lifeon April 30, 2024 at 7:00 am
Beats' latest earbuds have the longest battery life of any it has ever made. Plus, they're budget friendly at $80.
- Beats Solo 4 Headphones Debut With Improved Acoustics, Longer Battery Life, and Moreon April 30, 2024 at 7:00 am
Apple's Beats brand today is announcing an update to its most popular line of headphones with the new Beats Solo 4. The on-ear headphones ...
- Paleblue Earth batteries eliminate the one big pain point of rechargeableson April 29, 2024 at 9:46 pm
Batteries are ubiquitous – in one form or another, they're powering a lot of our wireless tech ... Many of us have opted for rechargeable batteries to power some of our devices, from TV remotes ...
- Beats' $80 Solo Buds Have a Continuous Battery Life That's 3x Longer Than AirPods 3on April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Instead of recharging the buds when you put them inside of the charging case like on pretty much all other wireless earbuds, the case doesn’t have a built-in battery. Instead, you put the empty buds ...
via Bing News
The Latest on: Wireless charging
- iPhone 16 molds reveal change to MagSafe charging ringon May 3, 2024 at 6:10 am
A French website has obtained what appear to be molds of the iPhone 16 line-up, showing what appears to be a small but still notable change to the MagSafe charging ring. The molds also reflect the ...
- 16 Best Wireless Chargers for iPhone and Androidon May 3, 2024 at 3:40 am
The best wireless chargers for your smartphone will improve how you charge with fast charging, and MagSafe options are now leading the way. We love wireless chargers because they’re so easy to use: ...
- MU research team is developing a soft, self-charging material that monitors vital signson May 2, 2024 at 9:49 pm
A magnetic connection is used in the wireless charging. It's similar to charging a mobile phone wirelessly, Yan said. The material can monitor heart activity, blood pressure and other vital signs, ...
- Best Wireless Charging Phones (May 2024) in Indiaon May 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Wireless charging is a novelty feature of high-end smartphones but is seldom seen in mid-range devices. You've found the right place if you're in the market for a phone that works with this handy ...
- Why are Public Transportation Systems Adopting VN88 Rezence Wireless Charging for Electric Buses?on May 2, 2024 at 4:32 am
The adoption of VN88 Rezence wireless charging for electric buses offers numerous benefits that address the challenges faced by public transportation systems.
- Meredot enables simultaneous wireless charging for diverse micromobility vehicles, robotson May 1, 2024 at 11:06 pm
How will people live 30 years from now? From the perspective of startup Meredot, wireless charging will become part of our daily lives.
- Wireless charging highway will charge ‘vehicle as it’s moving at 65 mph’on May 1, 2024 at 10:33 pm
John Kresse, director of hybrid and electrified technology for Cummins, says the wireless charging highway will help ease EV drivers’ concerns about driving long distances and not being able to find ...
- Wireless Charging: the next frontier in EV technologyon May 1, 2024 at 4:14 am
Naomi Nye from Drax Electric Vehicles examines wireless charging for EVs, discussing its potential benefits and challenges in simplifying charging and improving accessibility.
- WiBotic unveils new high power wireless charging solutionon May 1, 2024 at 2:21 am
WiBotic unveiled a new, larger 1kW charger, expanding its portfolio to provide wireless charging for larger battery systems.
- Tesla Wireless Charging: Is It Possible And When It Will Happenon April 28, 2024 at 5:00 am
Tesla is actively exploring wireless EV charging, eliminating cables for streamlined, efficient charging, once again revolutionizing the EV landscape.
via Bing News