A studies team from KIST and Korea University has evolved a biocompatible ultrasonic receiver.
As requirement increases for underwater and implantable medical electronics, ensuring a strong and non-stop power supply has grow to be increasingly crucial. Traditional wireless charging methods, including electromagnetic induction and radio frequency-primarily based structures mostly use in smartphones and earbuds, face numerous situations.
These consist of short transmission distances, low energy performance in biological tissues, and vulnerability to electromagnetic interference. To deal with those problems, researchers are turning to ultrasound as a promising alternative for wireless power transfer.
Ultrasound is more tissue-friendly and much less absorbed by the body, making it a dependable alternative for powering implantable and skin-adherent devices. As a end result, ultrasonic energy rising as a nest-generation solution for wireless charging.
A flexible, biocompatible solution
A study team led by Dr. Sunghoon Hur from the Electronic and Hybrid Materials Research Center on the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST),along with Professor Hyun-Cheol Song of Korea University, has evolved a biocompatible ultrasonic receiver that maintains constant overall performance even if bent.
(Left) Proposed application of a triboelectric ultrasonic receiver in an implantable medical device.
(Right) A comprehensive block diagram of the device.
Photo Credit: https://scitechdaily.com/
This flexible device addresses the various shortcomings of current wireless power transmission technologies at the same time as improving compatibility with the human body. The team also successfully verified wireless battery charging using ultrasonic waves, marking a significant step toward practical and commercial applications of the technology.
Improved performance with piezoelectric design
In precise, the researchers dramatically progressed the power conversion efficiency as compared to conventional ultrasonic receivers through using high-efficiency piezoelectric materials and a unique structural layout.
By designing a stretchable and biocompatible ultrasonic receiver that conforms carefully to the curves of the human body whilst achieving stable power conversion, they were able of transmit 20 mw of power at a distance of 3 cm underwater and 7 mw at a depth of 3 cm from the skin. This is enough power to continuously power low-power wearable devices or implantable medical devices.
Photo Credit: https://scitechdaily.com/
Powering the destiny of scientific and marine tech
The findings are anticipated to assist boost up the commercialization of ultrasonic-primarily based wireless charging technology for underwater electronics and implantable medical electronics. In specific, it’s is anticipated to provide a brand new paradigm for providing secure and non-stop strength to low-power medical devices which includes implantable pacemakers, neurostimulators, and wearable sensors.
It is likewise anticipated to be implemented not only to medical devices, however additionally to underwater drones and marine sensors that needs long-term power supply.
“Through this research, we’ve demonstrated that wireless power transmission technology the use of ultrasound may be applied practically,” stated Dr. Sunghoon Hur at KIST. “We plan to conduct similarly studies for miniaturization and commercialization to accelerate the practical a of application of the technology.”
