Tiny solar panels under your skin are almost ready to power the next generation of medical devices

Tiny solar panels under your skin are almost ready to power the next generation of medical devices The six-month study (at http://ift.tt/2j9sKZh) gave 32 volunteers in Switzerland an arm-strapped box covered with filters simulating human skin containing solar panels, batteries, and electronics. The participants wore the device for one week in the summer, autumn, and winter while going about their daily routines. The power generated on average was multiple times the 5-10 microwatts required by a standard cardiac pacemaker used to regulate irregular heart rhythms. Researchers say the lowest power recorded during the trial was 12 microwatts. In the new study, sunlight and artificial light energized the panels, with considerable power generated even indoors and during cloudy days. But it’s still a proof of concept. While not much larger than a credit card, the device was still too large and unwieldy to be implanted in the neck (where the panels would absorb the most light). The next step is to design and test a device that includes smaller, flexible solar panels optimized for low-light conditions, and with the right materials to safely encase the electronics that would go under a person’s skin. Finally, an effective solar-powered medical device would need to include a slim battery to store power for periods when light is in short supply. See http://ift.tt/2j8ifS0