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Swallowable Battery Powers Medical Devices in Pigs
21 Sep
Summary
- Ingestible battery powered devices inside pigs for up to three days.
- The paper-based battery safely broke down in the animals' bodies.
- This technology could enable future internal drug release and monitoring.
Researchers have successfully developed an ingestible, paper-based battery that powered internal medical devices in pigs for up to three days. This groundbreaking technology, described in Nature Chemical Engineering, represents a significant stride towards integrated biomedical systems for health monitoring and treatment.
The battery, constructed from magnesium-molybdenum trioxide and encapsulated in beeswax, was safely swallowed by swine. It powered a wireless tag and a capsule that stimulated the stomach, a function beneficial for patients with slow gastric emptying.
This bioresorbable device offers a promising alternative to invasive surgical procedures for implanting medical devices. Researchers are now focused on larger safety studies and consistent manufacturing, with prototypes for human clinical trials expected in about two years.
Potential applications include therapies for gastric conditions, nausea, and appetite loss, addressing common worldwide stomach disorders that are challenging to treat precisely due to variations in stomach acidity and transit speed.
