Biobattery Capsules Can Be Swallowed To Power A Clearer Look Inside Human Bodies

The small intestine has an average length of 22 feet that winds and coils around the gut. With that, it is often a place that is hard for doctors to reach and examine. 

 
Scientists at Binghamton University might have found a solution to the problem with its biobattery capsule.
 

The tiny device is designed to be swallowed and taken into the small intestine. Micro-cameras used to look into this area of the body are not new. However, professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi, the lead researcher on the study, notes that the battery used in these cameras cannot function for an extended period.

Choi has taken findings from over the last decade and implemented them into this new biobattery that uses bacteria to create low levels of energy which can power sensors and Wi-Fi connections as part of the Internet of Things.

The bacteria used is a microbial fuel cell with spore-forming Bacillus subtilis which will remain inert until it has reached the small intestine. To do this, the team used a pH membrane that can only activate in certain conditions.

 
This study, published in Advanced Energy Materials, describes the function of replacing traditional batteries, which could be potentially harmful and inefficient in wirelessly transmitting data from human bodies.

The cell can generate 100 microwatts per square centimeter of power density which is just enough for a wireless power transfer. Beyond that, the team is already working on improving the battery and increasing this outage by 10 times to allow for more usage options.

Choi foresees the biobattery assisting drug-delivery systems, biological and chemical sensors, and electrical stimulation devices.

 
 
 
[via TechTimes and Binghamton University, cover image via Binghamton University]