The beating of our hearts, the rush of our blood and the myriad chemical reactions that keep us alive are all potential energy sources. Experts are working to develop technologies that take advantage of the powerful biological ecosystems we already carry around with us.
Engineers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University teamed up with cardiologists at the University of Arizona to develop what they call piezoelectric nanoribbons, which attach to the outside of the heart muscle, much like a Band-Aid. These tiny strips contain crystals that create an electric current when flexed — each time the heart expands and contracts. In animal tests, electrical output reached 0.2 microwatts per square centimeter, potentially strong enough to power self-contained pacemakers and make battery-replacement surgeries a thing of the past.
Article:https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24906-bendy-implant-harnesses-the-power-of-your-beating-heart#.Ut8d-2Qo62w
http://www.medicaldaily.com/rechargeable-nanoribbon-harvests-electricity-organs-power-implanted-devices-video-267600
Image:
A thin strip with piezoelectric power generators can convert this cow heart's movements into electrical power to run pacemakers or other medical devices.
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