(STUDY FINDS) – Scientists have engineered an innovative way to recharge a patient’s pacemaker – by using their own heartbeat. These wireless pacemakers could partially recharge their batteries by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, according to a proof-of-concept study.
This research, which explores new ways to enhance the lifespan of pacemakers, aims to address the challenges posed by traditional and leadless pacemakers.
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“Mechanical and electrical energy are linked and can be exchanged back and forth,” says study lead author Dr. Babak Nazer, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, in a media release. “Just like ultrasound converts electrical voltage into pressure or sound, we can engineer similar materials onto implantable medical devices to convert the heart’s natural oscillating pressures ‘backward’ into voltage to prolong battery life.”
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