Powering implants with glucose

    The idea is to develop implantable medical devices powered by blood sugar and oxygen, eliminating the need for batteries and wires.
    The implantable glucose fuel cells are supposed to work on the basis of noble metal catalysts such as platinum, which is very stable and can be sterilized. Equipping systems with the fuel cells could enable them to be powered by a continuous electrochemical reaction between the glucose and the oxygen from the tissue fluid.
    Typical pacemaker batteries will be replaced every eight years, requiring an expensive invasive surgical procedure.