Transcutaneous system recharges batteries of implantable medical devices

A non-invasive system for recharging electronic implant batteries, using energy that passes through the body transcutaneously, has been developed by António Abreu, a PhD student in Sustainable Energy Systems within the MIT Portugal Program, who is conducting research at the National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P. (LNEG). The prototype has already been patented in the US and Europe.

The use of this system reduces the need for surgical procedures to replace batteries in devices such as pacemakers. In the future, the system could be applied to other types of internal prostheses or devices such as defibrillators, artificial hearts, or insulin pumps.