Chinese scientists create a next-generation pacemaker that draws energy from heart contractions, eliminating battery replacements and aiming for lifetime durability. Learn about this breakthrough in implantable medical devices.
© A. Krivonosov
Chinese scientists have unveiled a next-generation pacemaker that operates without a battery, drawing energy directly from the heart's own beats. Described in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, this development could fundamentally change the approach to implantable medical devices. Unlike traditional pacemakers, which require battery replacement every 8–10 years and additional surgeries, the new device is designed to last essentially a lifetime.
The device was created by a consortium of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences University, Tsinghua University, and Peking University. At its core is a system that converts the mechanical energy of heart contractions into electricity using electromagnetic induction. To boost reliability, engineers employed a simplified magnetic levitation system that reduces friction. In laboratory tests equivalent to 300 million heartbeats, wear was only about 4%, and the generated power reached 120 microwatts—significantly more than needed for stable pacemaker operation.
This pacemaker features a capsule form factor, uses no electrodes, and is implanted via the femoral vein using a catheter. During a month-long experiment on an animal with severe bradycardia, the device maintained a normal heart rhythm, powered solely by the heart's own energy. The developers aim to begin clinical trials by 2030 and ultimately make such implants cheaper and more durable than existing solutions. Looking ahead, the technology is planned for adaptation to other medical implants, from neurostimulators to bone recovery systems.