A Russian student is developing an “eternal” power source for a pacemaker

Russia – A student at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Ekaterina Vakhnitskaya, has developed a power source that does not require replacement following a few years and is used in a device that controls heartbeat.

The biofuel cell uses glucose from the human body as fuel, the institute’s press service reported.

She pointed out that the master’s student at the Kurchatov College of Natural Sciences, Plasma and Nuclear Technologies developed an enzyme biofuel cell used in implantable medical devices. The proposed model does not require rapid replacement, unlike lithium-ion batteries, which must be replaced every 5-10 years.”

Scientists at the college explained that the enzymatic biofuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy using biological catalysts, and consists of an electrolyte (electrolyte), an anode, and a cathode. Electrons are created on the anode in this case due to the oxidation of glucose present in the human body.

The principle of operation of the cell lies in the process of oxidizing the fuel at the anode and liberating electrons and protons. The protons then leak through the electrolyte solution to the cathode, and the electrons pass through an external circuit to which an electrical force is applied. “The electrons are then transferred to the cathode, where they are used with free protons to convert oxygen into water,” Vakhnitskaya said.

According to the student, glucose-based fuel will allow many patients who use pacemakers to dispense with battery replacement operations, as glucose from the human body is used as fuel, and its concentration is maintained constant due to vital balance. An electrochemical element is introduced into the blood vessel in a minimally invasive way, through a puncture in a vein or artery. The stent is inserted into the vessel, and is inflated with a special balloon when it reaches a specific location.

It is noteworthy that the project “Development of an enzyme biofuel cell integrated into a vascular surgery stent” won the “OMNIK” (smart) competition and received a grant of 500 thousand rubles. In the near future, Vakhnitskaya plans to try it in the laboratory, that is, in artificial conditions, outside the human body or the natural environment.

Source: TASS