A nanogenerator that can be implanted in the body and is driven by the movement of muscles has been developed by scientists at Georgia Tech. The device could supply electricity to medical devices and serve as a substitute for batteries and would never need charging.
FIG. 6 is a micrograph of a plurality of nanoscale conductors. A plurality of conductive electrode tips 600 extending from a substrate 602 is shown in FIG. 6.
The invention is a biologically-driven generator that includes a biocompatible substrate. A plurality piezoelectric nanowires extends upwardly from the substrate. A biological buffer is disposed around a portion of the piezoelectric nanowires. The biological buffer is configured to promote growth of cellular tissue and engagement of cellular tissue with the piezoelectric nanowires. A plurality of conductive electrode tips is disposed so as to engage the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires so that a Schottky barrier exists between selected ones of the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires and selected ones of the plurality of conductive electrode tips when the selected ones of the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires become deformed.
Georgia Tech Research Corporation (Atlanta, GA) Zhong L. Wang and Rusen Yang have created a method of generating electricity by growing living cells on an array of piezoelectric nanowires so that the cells engage the piezoelectric nanowires. Induced static potentials are extracted from at least one of the piezoelectric nanowires when at least one of the cells deforms the at least one of the piezoelectric nanowires. A cell-driven electrical generator that includes a substrate and a plurality of spaced-apart piezoelectric nanowires disposed on the substrate. A plurality of spaced-apart conductive electrodes interact with the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires. A biological buffer layer that is configured to promote growth of cells is disposed on the substrate so that cells placed on the substrate will grow and engage the piezoelectric nanowires. The device earned U.S. Patent 7,898,156.
Nanotechnology has a substantial potential in the biomedical sciences. Many nanodevices are being developed to work in concert with biological systems. Such systems under development include: devices for diagnosing medical conditions and for treating diseases; sensor systems, such as artificial light and sound sensors; and neural communication systems, such as systems for communicating neural potentials to computers and muscles. Generally, it is expected that nanodevices will become powerful tools in human and animal health treatment in the coming decades.
A reliable power source will be a requirement for almost all such nanosystems. Current possible power sources include batteries and externally-excited generators. While progress has been made in reducing the size of batteries, such progress is limited by the complexity of the components of batteries as they approach the nanoscale. Also, batteries have the disadvantage of requiring periodic replacement or recharging. Externally-excited generators (e.g., radio frequency coils) also have problems with scaling and require an external power source (such as a radio frequency signal generator) to be present for the generator to work.
Therefore, there is a need for a small scale generator that does not require periodic replacement or recharging. There is also a need for a small scale generator that does not require an external device to generate power.
A reliable power source will be a requirement for almost all such nanosystems. Current possible power sources include batteries and externally-excited generators. While progress has been made in reducing the size of batteries, such progress is limited by the complexity of the components of batteries as they approach the nanoscale. Also, batteries have the disadvantage of requiring periodic replacement or recharging. Externally-excited generators (e.g., radio frequency coils) also have problems with scaling and require an external power source (such as a radio frequency signal generator) to be present for the generator to work.
Therefore, there is a need for a small scale generator that does not require periodic replacement or recharging. There is also a need for a small scale generator that does not require an external device to generate power.
FIG. 5 is a micrograph of a piezoelectric nanowire disposed between two conductors. A micrograph of a piezoelectric nanowire 500 coupled between two conductive electrodes 502 is shown in FIG. 5
The invention is a biologically-driven generator that includes a biocompatible substrate. A plurality piezoelectric nanowires extends upwardly from the substrate. A biological buffer is disposed around a portion of the piezoelectric nanowires. The biological buffer is configured to promote growth of cellular tissue and engagement of cellular tissue with the piezoelectric nanowires. A plurality of conductive electrode tips is disposed so as to engage the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires so that a Schottky barrier exists between selected ones of the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires and selected ones of the plurality of conductive electrode tips when the selected ones of the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires become deformed.
Nice idea.But how can we fix such a piezoelectric material in a biological system?,as their is degeneration of the cells as time passes how can you maintain it?
ReplyDelete