Chinese scientists develop an implantable battery that runs off the oxygen in your blood

3 years ago by Lugh to c/futurology

From pacemakers to neurostimulators, implantable medical devices rely on batteries to keep the heart on beat and dampen pain. But batteries eventually run low and require invasive surgeries to replace. To address these challenges, researchers in China devised an implantable battery that runs on oxygen in the body. The study, published March 27 in the journal Chem, shows in rats that the proof-of-concept design can deliver stable power and is compatible with the biological system.

drislands 24 points 3 years ago

I'm down for technology making use of otherwise-unused energy is great. But that prompts the question -- is the oxygen it's pulling from unused energy? Could this negatively affect the oxygenation of blood?

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Sibbo 30 points 3 years ago

Probably. But if it means that you can have a lifetime heart pacemaker without ever changing batteries or external charging ports, that may be convenient. I mean, the tradeoff here is probably for people that are worried about more severe things than being a bit slower when jogging.

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drislands 14 points 3 years ago

That's a fair point. I suppose it depends on how much oxygen it takes, exactly.

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RestrictedAccount 7 points 3 years ago

Exactly. It depends on the option.

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CanadaPlus 1 point 3 years ago

And how well oxygenated the person is. If they're chronically really anemic it might be a problem where it wouldn't for a healthy person.

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Vex_Detrause 6 points 3 years ago

Doesn't a pacemaker last like 10 years now? It would still need battery I guess even though it charges by blood oxygen. Imagine having carbon monoxide poisoning but what killed the patient was the pacemaker that died.

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anton 7 points 3 years ago

Doesn't a pacemaker last like 10 years now?

Yes, but a nuclear pacemaker can last a lifetime.
A bio-battery has that same advantage without containing a radioactive sample that needs to be removed when you die.

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prole 5 points 3 years ago

How long until it's turned into a weapon

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possiblylinux127 1 point 3 years ago

Or how long until this powers computers with advanced AI

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OldWoodFrame 18 points 3 years ago

Let's uh all take an AI safety class before we make an AGI that survives off the oxygen from human blood.

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EmptySlime 16 points 3 years ago

MANKIND IS DEAD.

BLOOD IS FUEL.

HELL IS FULL.

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rockerface 4 points 3 years ago

I DO NOT HAVE DADDY ISSUES, I AM PAPA'S SPECIAL FUCKING BOY!

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fsxylo 6 points 3 years ago

horizon zero dawn theme starts playing

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deegeese 14 points 3 years ago

A robotic symbiont

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admiralpatrick 12 points 3 years ago

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deegeese 14 points 3 years ago

Presumably doctors would only implant a device which benefits the patient.

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Atemu 2 points 3 years ago

"Presumably"

Off to !unix_surrealism@lemmy.sdf.org...

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Grandwolf319 2 points 3 years ago

Yes but does it benefit the device?

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Mikufan 2 points 3 years ago

Neuralink begs to differ.

(the probability of it causing Meningitis is pretty high)

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SchizoDenji 1 point 3 years ago

And which doctor is prescribing it?

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inclementimmigrant 8 points 3 years ago

Can't wait to see the inevitable repeat of the Samsung exploding battery debacle.

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Kolanaki 8 points 3 years ago

Put them in my hands so I can just charge my phone by holding it.

Also, if someone has a heart attack and needs defibrillation, I'll have it covered.

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slazer2au 7 points 3 years ago

I like your thinking but I doubt it will work in its current state.

The researchers then implanted the battery under the skin on the backs of rats and measured its electricity output. Two weeks later, they found that the battery can produce stable voltages between 1.3 V and 1.4 V, with a maximum power density of 2.6 µW/cm2. Although the output is insufficient to power medical devices, the design shows that harnessing oxygen in the body for energy is possible.

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RobotToaster 6 points 3 years ago

2.6 µW/cm2.

Harvesting the energy from vibrations would probably generate more ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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DarkThoughts 4 points 3 years ago

Yeah but who's gonna masturbate the mice?

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rustydomino 2 points 3 years ago

2.6 microwatts per cm^2 of what? Surface area of anode/cathode in the battery? Summary does not say.

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possiblylinux127 7 points 3 years ago

Does it involve plugging myself into the Matrix. I can't wait until the AI uses humans as a power source

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FenrirIII 4 points 3 years ago

We're a very impractical power source. Better to wipe us out and start over.

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Phoenix5869 5 points 3 years ago

I’ve heard this sort of thing 1000 times before, and so far it never materialises.

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FartsWithAnAccent 5 points 3 years ago

runs out of oxygen to charge and passes out

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HootinNHollerin 5 points 3 years ago

Should be called Vampire

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BuryMyHorse 4 points 3 years ago

parasites is what they are

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Emma_Gold_Man 3 points 3 years ago

Symbiont's is closer to it, since the host gets a benefit. At least for now ...

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Duke_Nukem_1990 4 points 3 years ago

One step closer to Roland's battle drug implants from After The Revolution by Robert Evans.

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maynarkh 1 point 3 years ago

Would other bodily fluids also suffice?

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