In Vivo Self-Powered Wireless Cardiac Monitoring via Implantable Triboelectric Nanogenerator

Abstract

Harvesting biomechanical energy in vivo is an important route in obtaining sustainable electric energy for powering implantable medical devices. Here, we demonstrate an innovative implantable triboelectric nanogenerator (iTENG) for in vivo biomechanical energy harvesting. Driven by the heartbeat of adult swine, the output voltage and the corresponding current were improved by factors of 3.5 and 25, respectively, compared with the reported in vivo output performance of biomechanical energy conversion devices. In addition, the in vivo evaluation of the iTENG was demonstrated for over 72 h of implantation, during which the iTENG generated electricity continuously in the active animal. Due to its excellent in vivo performance, a self-powered wireless transmission system was fabricated for real-time wireless cardiac monitoring. Given its outstanding in vivo output and stability, iTENG can be applied not only to power implantable medical devices but also possibly to fabricate a self-powered, wireless healthcare monitoring system.

Materials Strategies and Device Architectures of Emerging Power Supply Devices for Implantable Bioelectronics

“…For example, Kapton, silk, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), PVDF, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and poly(1 H ,1 H ,2 H ,2 H ‐perfluorodecylmethacrylate) (PFDMA) are used for negatively charged triboelectric materials; nylon, Al, Cu, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) are used for positively charged triboelectric materials; and Teflon, PTFE, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are used for substrates or encapsulations . A typical stacked arch‐shaped structure of TENG appears in Figure a . Other alternative structures include a spring configuration consisting of alternatively stacked arch‐shaped and anti‐arch‐shaped structures, and the in‐plane sliding structure …”

Wireless monitoring and artificial intelligence: A bright future in cardiothoracic surgery

“…7 A wireless electronic esophageal stethoscope was designed for continuous auscultation of heart and lung sounds in anesthetized patients. 8 Zheng and colleagues 9 developed an in vivo self-powered wireless cardiac monitoring system via implantable triboelectric nanogenerator.…”

Chitosan biopolymer‐derived self‐powered triboelectric sensor with optimized performance through molecular surface engineering and data‐driven learning

“…The capability of distributed, ubiquitous energy supply with sustainable approaches is expected to enable exciting opportunities for powering miniaturized electronics in emerging technologies, for exapmle, wearable devices, human‐integrated technology, robotics, and the Internet of Things . Numerous technologies have been developed to harvest the ambient mechanical energy into electrical power through various physical mechanisms such as electrostatic, piezoelectric, and, recently, triboelectric processes.…”

“…The capability of distributed, ubiquitous energy supply with sustainable approaches is expected to enable exciting opportunities for powering miniaturized electronics in emerging technologies, for exapmle, wearable devices, humanintegrated technology, robotics, and the Internet of Things. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Numerous technologies have been developed to harvest the ambient mechanical energy into electrical power through various physical mechanisms such as electrostatic, piezoelectric, and, recently, triboelectric processes. Compared with other mechanical energy harvesting technologies, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can efficiently harvest the ubiquitous mechanical energy for powering electronics and sensors, hinged on principles of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction, [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] exhibiting merits of low cost, facile fabrication, and abundant choice of materials and structures.…”