Energy harvesting from pulsatile Superior Vena Cava for implantable devices

IF 4.9 3区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

Sensors and Actuators A-physical Pub Date : 2025-08-25 DOI:10.1016/j.sna.2025.116993

Mostafa G. Abdelmageed , Ahmed M.R. Fath El-Bab , Ahmed A. Abouelsoud , Moataz Elsisy

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

A pacemaker is an implantable electronic medical device powered by a lithium-iodine battery and designed to regulate abnormal heart rhythms via electrical pulses. One of the major limitations of such devices is the finite battery lifespan, necessitating surgical replacement. This study explores the feasibility of harvesting energy from pulsatile blood flow in large veins, specifically the Superior Vena Cava (SVC) to supplement or extend the battery life of implanted devices such as pacemakers. An experimental setup was developed to simulate the pulsatile flow in the SVC using a hydraulic system driven by a cam mechanism to replicate the physiological blood velocity profile. A Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric sensor, positioned within the flow stream, undergoes harmonic deformation due to fluid-induced forces, thereby generating electrical charges through the piezoelectric effect. Output voltage and power were measured across a range of resistive loads under four heart rates: 60, 80, 100, and 120 beats per minute (bpm). The corresponding peak power outputs were 0.5, 2, 8.5, and 35 nW, with steady-state voltages of approximately 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.7 V, respectively. The process was further modeled using Finite Elements simulation and MATLAB, with the simulation results showing strong agreement with experimental trends. Simulated power outputs were 2, 7.5, 20, and 45 nW at the respective heart rates. Although the harvested power is modest, it demonstrates potential for enhancing device longevity. Future improvements—such as deploying multiple harvesters, optimizing device geometry, and substituting PVDF with higher-performance materials like Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) could significantly improve energy harvesting efficiency in implantable medical electronics.

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从脉动上腔静脉收集能量用于植入式装置

心脏起搏器是一种植入式电子医疗设备，由锂碘电池供电，旨在通过电脉冲调节异常的心律。这种装置的主要限制之一是电池寿命有限，需要手术更换。这项研究探索了从大静脉，特别是上腔静脉（SVC）的脉动血流中收集能量的可行性，以补充或延长植入设备（如起搏器）的电池寿命。利用凸轮驱动的液压系统模拟了SVC内的脉动血流，模拟了生理血流速度分布。聚偏氟乙烯（PVDF）压电传感器放置在流体中，由于流体诱导的力而发生谐波变形，从而通过压电效应产生电荷。输出电压和功率在四种心率（每分钟60次、80次、100次和120次）下的电阻负载范围内测量。相应的峰值输出功率分别为0.5、2、8.5和35 nW，稳态电压分别约为0.3、0.5、1.0和1.7 V。利用有限元仿真和MATLAB对该过程进行了建模，仿真结果与实验结果吻合较好。在不同的心率下，模拟功率输出分别为2、7.5、20和45 nW。虽然收获的功率是适度的，但它显示了提高设备寿命的潜力。未来的改进，如部署多个收集器，优化设备几何形状，用更高性能的材料如锆钛酸铅（PZT）代替PVDF，可以显著提高植入式医疗电子设备的能量收集效率。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Sensors and Actuators A-physical 工程技术-工程：电子与电气

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

6.50%

发文量

630

审稿时长

49 days

期刊介绍： Sensors and Actuators A: Physical brings together multidisciplinary interests in one journal entirely devoted to disseminating information on all aspects of research and development of solid-state devices for transducing physical signals. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical regularly publishes original papers, letters to the Editors and from time to time invited review articles within the following device areas: • Fundamentals and Physics, such as: classification of effects, physical effects, measurement theory, modelling of sensors, measurement standards, measurement errors, units and constants, time and frequency measurement. Modeling papers should bring new modeling techniques to the field and be supported by experimental results. • Materials and their Processing, such as: piezoelectric materials, polymers, metal oxides, III-V and II-VI semiconductors, thick and thin films, optical glass fibres, amorphous, polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon. • Optoelectronic sensors, such as: photovoltaic diodes, photoconductors, photodiodes, phototransistors, positron-sensitive photodetectors, optoisolators, photodiode arrays, charge-coupled devices, light-emitting diodes, injection lasers and liquid-crystal displays. • Mechanical sensors, such as: metallic, thin-film and semiconductor strain gauges, diffused silicon pressure sensors, silicon accelerometers, solid-state displacement transducers, piezo junction devices, piezoelectric field-effect transducers (PiFETs), tunnel-diode strain sensors, surface acoustic wave devices, silicon micromechanical switches, solid-state flow meters and electronic flow controllers. Etc...