Under the skin: Chinese scientists create wireless charger that can stay safely in human body
- A prototype has been created for a wireless implantable power system that is biodegradable and flexible
- After showing positive test results, scientists hope the system will eventually be used to power drug delivery implants
Implantable bioelectronic systems, such as monitoring sensors and drug delivery implants, are minimally invasive, reliable ways to precisely monitor and treat patients.
However, according to a paper published on Thursday in the journal Science Advances led by researchers from Lanzhou University, the development of power modules to run these devices has lagged behind the creation of biocompatible and biodegradable sensors and circuit units.
Meanwhile, power supply units connected to transdermal chargers can cause inflammation, and ones powered by non-rechargeable batteries may need to be surgically replaced, which can cause complications, according to the paper.
To address this gap, the researchers proposed a wireless implantable power system with “simultaneously high energy storage performance and favoured tissue interfacing properties”, as its soft and flexible design allows it to adapt to the shape of tissue and organs.