In Vivo Demonstration of a Self-Sustaining, Implantable, Stimulated-Muscle-Powered Piezoelectric Generator Prototype

Abstract

An implantable, stimulated-muscle-powered piezoelectric active energy harvesting generator was previously designed to exploit the fact that the mechanical output power of muscle is substantially greater than the electrical power necessary to stimulate the muscle's motor nerve. We reduced to practice the concept by building a prototype generator and stimulator. We demonstrated its feasibility in vivo, using rabbit quadriceps to drive the generator. The generated power was sufficient for selfsustaining operation of the stimulator and additional harnessed power was dissipated through a load resistor. The prototype generator was developed and the power generating capabilities were tested with a mechanical muscle analog. In vivo generated power matched the mechanical muscle analog, verifying its usefulness as a test-bed for generator development. Generator output power was dependent on the muscle stimulation parameters. Simulations and in vivo testing demonstrated that for a fixed number of stimuli/minute, two stimuli applied at a high frequency generated greater power than single stimuli or tetanic contractions. Larger muscles and circuitry improvements are expected to increase available power. An implanted, self-replenishing power source has the potential to augment implanted battery or transcutaneously powered electronic medical devices.

Design, fabrication and evaluation of a conforming circumpolar peripheral nerve cuff electrode for acute experimental use

“…This electrode has been implanted during acute experiments on rat sciatic nerves (Bhadra and Kilgore, 2005; Miles et al, 2007; Ackermann et al, 2009; Ackermann et al, 2010; Ackermann et al, in press), feline sacral roots (Boger et al, 2008; Mariano et al, 2009), sural nerves (Lahowetz et al, 2007), and pudendal nerves (Bhadra et al, 2006; Boger et al, 2008; Bruns et al, 2009), and rabbit femoral nerves (Lewandowski et al, 2009). The electrode configuration chosen depended on the intended application (ie.…”

“…Bipolar electrodes with two identical circumferential electrical contacts spaced longitudinally along the nerve have been used for both neural stimulation and conduction block in the rat (Ackermann et al, 2009; Ackermann et al, 2010; Ackermann et al, in press). Tripolar electrodes, having three identical contacts spaced evenly along the nerve, have been used for stimulation, recording, and conduction block (Bhadra and Kilgore, 2005; Bhadra et al, 2006; Lahowetz et al, 2007; Miles et al, 2007; Boger et al, 2008; Bruns et al, 2009; Lewandowski et al, 2009; Mariano et al, 2009; Ackermann, in press). …”

“…This electrode design has been successfully used in multiple whole nerve neurostimulation studies to date, and has been shown to produce robust and repeatable recruitment of nerve fibers during stimulation (Bhadra et al, 2006; Miles et al, 2007; Bruns et al, 2008; Ackermann et al, 2009; Lewandowski et al, 2009; Mariano et al, 2009; Ackermann et al, 2010; Ackermann et al, in press) and conduction block (Bhadra and Kilgore, 2005; Bhadra et al, 2006; Miles et al, 2007; Boger et al, 2008; Ackermann et al, 2009; Ackermann et al, in press). It has also been used for recording compound action potentials (Lahowetz et al, 2007).…”

Energy Harvesting from Human Locomotion: Gait Analysis, Design and State of Art

“…Several researchers, e.g., [13], have modeled this motion as a perfect plastic collision, while others believe that there is an elastic component to this motion, e.g., [12,13]. It is, however, generally agreed that energy is lost during the collision.…”

Singularity now: using the ventricular assist device as a model for future humanrobotic physiology

“…These psychological factors are compounded in patients with more extensive robotic hybridization, and while implantable batteries with self-regeneration properties using piezoelectric generators are under development [13], the fact remains that this issue will continue to be a factor in the viability of long-term human-robotic hybrids for quite some time.…”