Current pacemakers require batteries with short lifespans that must be regularly swapped out. Researchers from China and the U.S., however, have developed a prototype pacemaker that doesn’t need a battery. Instead, it converts the biomechanical energy generated by a beating heart into electricity. This electricity powers the pacing module, which sends electric pulses that keep the heart beating at a normal rate.
The device was recently tested successfully on pigs’ hearts, which are similar in size to those of humans. While not yet ready for human use, the device did demonstrate that its energy output can meet and even exceed the required amount for commercial human pacemakers. If it proves viable, this energy-gathering system could be used to create self-sustaining power systems for other medical devices like neural and muscle stimulators.