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Self‐Powered Implantable Medical Devices: Photovoltaic Energy Harvesting Review
Author(s) -
Zhao Jinwei,
Ghannam Rami,
Htet Kaung Oo,
Liu Yuchi,
Law Mankay,
Roy Vellaisamy A. L.,
Michel Bruno,
Imran Muhammad Ali,
Heidari Hadi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.202000779
Subject(s) - energy harvesting , photovoltaic system , electricity generation , energy transformation , nanotechnology , materials science , computer science , electrical engineering , power (physics) , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
Implantable technologies are becoming more widespread for biomedical applications that include physical identification, health diagnosis, monitoring, recording, and treatment of human physiological traits. However, energy harvesting and power generation beneath the human tissue are still a major challenge. In this regard, self‐powered implantable devices that scavenge energy from the human body are attractive for long‐term monitoring of human physiological traits. Thanks to advancements in material science and nanotechnology, energy harvesting techniques that rely on piezoelectricity, thermoelectricity, biofuel, and radio frequency power transfer are emerging. However, all these techniques suffer from limitations that include low power output, bulky size, or low efficiency. Photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion is one of the most promising candidates for implantable applications due to their higher‐power conversion efficiencies and small footprint. Herein, the latest implantable energy harvesting technologies are surveyed. A comparison between the different state‐of‐the‐art power harvesting methods is also provided. Finally, recommendations are provided regarding the feasibility of PV cells as an in vivo energy harvester, with an emphasis on skin penetration, fabrication, encapsulation, durability, biocompatibility, and power management.