Energy sources and their development for application in medical devices

Abstract

Electronic medical devices have become an indispensable part of modern healthcare. Currently, a wide variety of electronic medical devices are being used to monitor physiological parameters of the body, perform therapy and supplement or even entirely replace complex biological functions. Cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter-defibrillators and cochlear implants are a few examples of such medical devices. Proper functionality of these devices relies heavily on the continuous supply of a sufficient amount of electricity to them. In this sense, a reliable, safe and convenient method for the provision of energy is very crucial. Various approaches have been developed to fulfil the divergent and challenging energy requirements of medical devices. In this article, we present a brief overview of the energy requirements of medical devices and review the existing and emerging energy sources for application in these devices, particularly wearable and implantable devices.

Keywords::

• biofuel cell
• electrochemical battery
• electrochemical capacitor
• energy harvesting
• energy source
• fuel cell
• medical device
• nuclear battery
• transcutaneous energy transmission
• wireless power transmission

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was funded by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) under grant number 082-140-0036 (M47050060). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.