University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers develop battery-free pacemaker

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed an implantable, battery-free pacemaker that harvests energy from a patient’s own heartbeat. The technology, detailed in the journal Science Advances, utilizes nanogenerators to achieve a power output density an order of magnitude higher than previous versions.

This advancement aims to address a major clinical challenge: the need for surgical reoperation to replace pacemakers when their batteries deplete. By providing a device that could potentially last a lifetime, the technology seeks to reduce both the medical risks and the costs associated with generator replacement procedures.