Invention of oxygen batteries that can be permanently implanted in the body

Implantable medical devices often have batteries that need to be replaced or recharged somehow. There is a new type of oxygen battery that could eliminate the need for invasive surgery to replace batteries in such devices.

A pacemaker is one of the medical devices implanted in the body and must be replaced when the battery runs out. (Photo: LV et.al/Chem).

The proof-of-concept of this invention has been presented in a new study published in Chem, a scientific consultation journal in the US. This research shows that the new battery can provide stable energy and is compatible with the biological systems of laboratory mice.

Essentially, oxygen batteries use the body's oxygen supply to generate energy. Experiments show that oxygen batteries can generate a voltage of 1.3 to 1.4 volts with a power density of 2.6 μW/cm2.

Currently, this capacity is not enough to power medical devices implanted in the body, but it shows that oxygen-powered batteries can be built and work.

The research team said they also looked at the battery's potential impact on laboratory mice, and found that inflammatory reactions as well as changes in metabolism and cell proliferation around the battery were all within safe levels. . These mice showed no inflammation at all.

Oxygen batteries could eliminate the need for invasive surgery for patients with pacemakers and other implanted devices inside the body (Photo: nerthuz/Adobe).

As for the byproducts of the chemical reaction caused by the oxygen battery , the researchers said that salt ions, hydroxide ions and very little hydrogen peroxide produced by the battery were all easily metabolized by the body of the laboratory rats and did not have any adverse effects on the liver or kidneys.

Obviously this is good news because those chemical reactions can have serious consequences for the body if the body cannot handle them. The team also found that the blood vessels around the battery were regenerated.

In addition to the oxygen battery mentioned above, the group also plans to continue researching to invent new types of batteries, or new methods to treat cancer, because they think these batteries can destroy cancerous tumors. requires more oxygen by depriving the tumors of the oxygen they need.

It still takes a long time for this new oxygen battery to come into practical use, but the proof of concept has confirmed that the oxygen in the body could be enough to power this battery.