Scientists Build 3-Day Swallowable Paper Battery for Gut Devices
Updated
Updated · Livescience.com · Sep 21
Scientists Build 3-Day Swallowable Paper Battery for Gut Devices
3 articles · Updated · Livescience.com · Sep 21
Summary
Pig tests showed the degradable paper battery powered ingestible devices for up to three days before gradually breaking down in the gastrointestinal tract.
1.77- to 1.84-volt prototypes used magnesium, molybdenum trioxide and activated carbon in a porous cellulose paper design, while beeswax and candelilla wax coatings slowed acid-driven degradation.
Two devices ran on the battery: an RFID tag that tracked medication intake from 5 feet away and a stomach-stimulation capsule that raised ghrelin levels without visible tissue damage.
Researchers said the main hurdles are low capacity, variable performance and tighter control of working lifetime; they are targeting batteries tailored to last hours to days.
An initial human trial of the RFID system could begin in about two years if further testing better matches conditions in the human gut.