BITS Pilani Researchers Develop Low-Cost Power Solution for Implantable Medical Devices

When glucose from the blood interacts with this enzyme, a chemical reaction generates energy, which can be used to power small electronic devices.

Researchers at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Hyderabad, have developed a breakthrough method to power implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers and cochlear implants, using a low-cost, glucose-based biofuel cell.

This technology could simplify device charging and reduce costs significantly.

S Vanmathi, a research scholar in BITS' Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, explained that the team designed a biofuel cell using a 0.5 cm carbon cloth coated with glucose oxidase enzyme.

When glucose from the blood interacts with this enzyme, a chemical reaction generates energy, which can be used to power small electronic devices.

"This method could potentially bring down the manufacturing cost to just Rs 50-60 for a carbon cloth-based biofuel cell, which can power a microelectronic circuit for 8-12 hours,” said Vanmathi. The device's power duration can be extended by increasing the size of the cloth as required.

During laboratory testing, the researchers demonstrated the biofuel cell’s effectiveness by generating power for a digital watch. Using a chemical glucose solution as a substitute for blood glucose, they initially produced 470 millivolts of energy.

With the addition of a booster, the team was able to increase this output to 3 volts, sufficient to power medical devices.

The research, published in the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, shows promise for a flexible and safer alternative to conventional batteries currently used in pacemakers and other devices.

Unlike metal-based biofuel cells, the carbon cloth approach offers improved flexibility and may reduce potential risks associated with long-term use of foreign materials in the body.

Potential for Sustainable Implant Powering

Professor Sanket Goel, who supervised the research, emphasized the advantages of this method over traditional batteries in implantable devices.

“Current pacemakers rely on batteries, which are foreign materials inside the body and can corrode over time, leading to complications. Our approach, by contrast, uses glucose—a natural bodily fluid—thereby enhancing both safety and sustainability,” Goel explained.

This method could simplify device maintenance, as replacing the biofuel cell would be easier and safer than battery replacements.

Energy Storage with Supercapacitors

The research team is also exploring the potential integration of a supercapacitor into the biofuel cell, allowing for energy storage to power the device when required, which would further improve its efficiency and usability in real-life applications.

With this innovation, BITS Pilani researchers aim to make critical implantable devices more accessible and reliable, positioning the technology as a promising alternative to current power solutions in medical implants.

The development aligns with broader efforts to enhance healthcare technology accessibility and cost-effectiveness, especially in regions where medical costs are a barrier to patient care.

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