What is the Bioelectric Generator?
For this project, we want to design, build, and test a fully implantable non-inductive electric generating/charging system. This system is designed to recharge pacemaker-type implants to prevent the need for surgical battery replacement. With this product the patient could save large amounts of money that would have gone to replacement surgeries.
Product Benefits
The pacemaker is a crucial medical device that helps millions of people around the world. Over the years pacemakers have evolved, however the need for replacement surgeries has remained a constant problem related to the technology. The internal wireless generator is a hope to remove this need for replacement surgeries. By internally charging the pacemaker battery it removed the need for the battery to be surgically replaced. The device will also communicate with an external display allowing the patient to know the battery level of their pacemaker at any given time as long as they are within bluetooth range of the display. This can give the patient peace of mind about the status of their life saving medical device, and remove some of the mystery that can surround a fully implanted device.
Our Client
Our team has been sponsored by Gore. "Founded more than 60 years ago by Bill and Vieve Gore, their award-winning enterprise makes industry-leading products while employing over 11,000 Associates worldwide. Technology is at the center of Gore’s solutions, particularly expanded PTFE, a versatile polymer that they discovered. Built upon the principles of freedom, fairness, commitment and respect for the enterprise’s waterline, Gore has a distinctive company culture in which highly motivated people thrive." (Above excerpt taken from Gore.com)
Our Requirements Specification
This PDF file contains our Requirements Specification. Download
System Architecture
Our project is broken up into two primary categories, the subsystems inside the body and the subsystems outside the body. Inside of the body are the Photodiode Array which is powering both the Arduino and charge management IC, as well as the pacemaker battery itself. Outside of the body is the Raspberry Pi and its power supply, and finally the display. These two categories are primarily connected through the Arduino wirelessly connecting to the external raspberry pi, which is connected to the display to display information to the user.
Hardware Used
BPW34 Photodiode
Arduino 33 BLE
ElecLab Raspberry Pi Display