News Article
Electrifying heartbeats
An in-body micro generator converts heartbeat into electricity for implanted medical devices. The micro generator taps in-body energy source to help power cardiac pacemakers and ICDs supporting advanced health monitoring applications and therapies.
An UK based consortium of companies announced it has successfully designed and clinically tested an in-body model micro generator that converts energy from the heartbeat into power for implanted medical devices. Partners in the self energising implantable medical micro system (SIMM) project include Zarlink Semiconductor, InVivo Technology, Perpetuum, Finsbury Orthopaedics and Odstock Medical.
The SIMM micro generator could help power implanted medical devices by augmenting the existing battery for devices such as cardiac pacemakers and implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). In preclinical testing, the micro generator successfully produced one third of the energy required to power a conventional cardiac pacemaker. The consortium is currently discussing next steps for the micro generator project with medical device manufacturers. Dr. Paul Roberts, consultant electrophysiologist at Southampton University Hospital, UK, presented details on the SIMM project at this week's American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008 in New Orleans.
"The micro generator taps an in-body energy supply (the heartbeat) to help enable more advanced, smaller implanted medical devices that will improve patient care and comfort," said Martin McHugh, business development manager with Zarlink Semiconductor's Advanced Packaging group and SIMM project co-ordinator. "Taking advantage of a continuous in-body power source, instead of relying solely on batteries, means implanted medical devices supporting advanced diagnostics and therapies can be more easily designed."
Implanted medical devices are increasingly incorporating advanced features in an effort to improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. For example, cardiac pacemakers are integrating wireless technology to enable home based health monitoring, with patient health and device performance data transmitted to the physician's office over a broadband network. Wireless technology is also enabling a range of new diagnostics and therapies, including implanted devices used to monitor and treat diabetes and neurostimulators that can alleviate chronic pain or lessen the debilitating effects of Parkinson's disease.
The SIMM micro generator is a catheter mounted device that would be placed on a conventional pacemaker or defibrillator lead. The device harvests energy by using differential pressure within the chambers of the heart to drive a linear generator. During testing, the device generated one third of the power required to run a pacemaker (excluding pacing demand). Next generation micro generator devices are expected to fully power both the pacemaker and pacing requirements. Placement of the micro generator is uncomplicated and is fully compatible with existing techniques for implanting cardiac devices.
"Previous attempts to harvest human energy have resulted in systems that require surgical techniques that pose an unacceptable risk to patients," said Dr. Paul Roberts, consultant electrophysiologist at Southampton University Hospital, UK. "The SIMM device is designed to be incorporated into a conventional pacemaker or ICD lead, meaning it will not affect current implant procedures for either the cardiologist or patient while delivering a significant clinical benefit. While supporting new applications and functionality, the micro generator will also improve quality of life for patients by enabling smaller devices with a longer operating life."
The SIMM micro generator could help power implanted medical devices by augmenting the existing battery for devices such as cardiac pacemakers and implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). In preclinical testing, the micro generator successfully produced one third of the energy required to power a conventional cardiac pacemaker. The consortium is currently discussing next steps for the micro generator project with medical device manufacturers. Dr. Paul Roberts, consultant electrophysiologist at Southampton University Hospital, UK, presented details on the SIMM project at this week's American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008 in New Orleans.
"The micro generator taps an in-body energy supply (the heartbeat) to help enable more advanced, smaller implanted medical devices that will improve patient care and comfort," said Martin McHugh, business development manager with Zarlink Semiconductor's Advanced Packaging group and SIMM project co-ordinator. "Taking advantage of a continuous in-body power source, instead of relying solely on batteries, means implanted medical devices supporting advanced diagnostics and therapies can be more easily designed."
Implanted medical devices are increasingly incorporating advanced features in an effort to improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. For example, cardiac pacemakers are integrating wireless technology to enable home based health monitoring, with patient health and device performance data transmitted to the physician's office over a broadband network. Wireless technology is also enabling a range of new diagnostics and therapies, including implanted devices used to monitor and treat diabetes and neurostimulators that can alleviate chronic pain or lessen the debilitating effects of Parkinson's disease.
The SIMM micro generator is a catheter mounted device that would be placed on a conventional pacemaker or defibrillator lead. The device harvests energy by using differential pressure within the chambers of the heart to drive a linear generator. During testing, the device generated one third of the power required to run a pacemaker (excluding pacing demand). Next generation micro generator devices are expected to fully power both the pacemaker and pacing requirements. Placement of the micro generator is uncomplicated and is fully compatible with existing techniques for implanting cardiac devices.
"Previous attempts to harvest human energy have resulted in systems that require surgical techniques that pose an unacceptable risk to patients," said Dr. Paul Roberts, consultant electrophysiologist at Southampton University Hospital, UK. "The SIMM device is designed to be incorporated into a conventional pacemaker or ICD lead, meaning it will not affect current implant procedures for either the cardiologist or patient while delivering a significant clinical benefit. While supporting new applications and functionality, the micro generator will also improve quality of life for patients by enabling smaller devices with a longer operating life."
