Implantable power generation system utilizing muscle contractions excited by electrical stimulation

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine Vol. 230; no. 6; p. 569
• Main Authors: Sahara, Genta, Hijikata, Wataru, Tomioka, Kota, Shinshi, Tadahiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Biomedical Engineering; Bufonidae - physiology; Bufonidae - surgery; Electric Stimulation; Electrodes, Implanted; Equipment Design; In Vitro Techniques; Models, Animal; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - surgery; Prostheses and Implants; electrical stimulation; Implantable medical device; muscle; power generator
• ISSN: 2041-3033
• DOI: 10.1177/0954411916638889

An implantable power generation system driven by muscle contractions for supplying power to active implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers and neurostimulators, is proposed. In this system, a muscle is intentionally contracted by an electrical stimulation in accordance with the demands of the active implantable medical device for electrical power. The proposed system, which comprises a small electromagnetic induction generator, electrodes with an electrical circuit for stimulation and a transmission device to convert the linear motion of the muscle contractions into rotational motion for the magneto rotor, generates electrical energy. In an ex vivo demonstration using the gastrocnemius muscle of a toad, which was 28 mm in length and weighed 1.3 g, the electrical energy generated by the prototype exceeded the energy consumed for electrical stimulation, with the net power being 111 µW. It was demonstrated that the proposed implantable power generation system has the potential to replace implantable batteries for active implantable medical devices.