Bioengineers at UCLA have developed a soft and flexible self-powered bioelectronic device that is capable of creating the power it needs to function from body motion. This motion includes bending of an elbow to the movement generated by the pulse on a wrist.
Project researchers found out something known as the magnetoelastic effect, which creates a charge when small magnets are pushed together and puller apart due to mechanical pressure. This exists in a flexible system and not only a rigid system.
Uses magnetism instead of electricity
The researcher created a concept device with the help of microscopic magnets dispersed in a silicone matrix as this as a sheet of paper. As the matrix moves, the magnetic field alters in strength, generating power. The team believes that the device can come in handy to power a wide range of wearables and implantable sensors that can monitor several health conditions.
One unique aspect of the new device is that it depends on magnetism rather than electricity, which means humidity and sweat don’t hamper its effectiveness. The researchers developed a flexible magnetoelastic generator the size of a quarter constructed of a platinum-catalyzed silicone polymer matrix. The generator had neodymium-iron-boron-nanomagnets. The flexible device was attached to a study participant’s elbow using a silicone band.
No scheduled date for market launch
The team discovered that the magnetoelastic effect was four times more than any rigid system of the same size. The test system generated 4.27 milliamperes per square centimeter of electrical current. While that’s not a lot of power, it is 10,000 times more than what the comparable technology generates.
The new device developed by the team was so sensitive that it could generate power from human pulse waves. This paves the way for a self-powered and waterproof heart rate monitor. A patent has been filed for the technology, but it’s still unclear when the tech will arrive in the mainstream market.
