DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL ARTIFICIAL HEART POWER SUPPLY

该项目将展示直接甲醇燃料电池（DMFC）作为全人工心脏（TAH）和永久性心室辅助装置（VAD）的电源的使用。在美国，心血管疾病是导致死亡的主要原因。在许多情况下，通过心脏置换可以延长高质量的生活。目前的替代品意味着移植，但目前正在开发的TAH提供了另一种选择。在这些设备中，泵由患者体内的可充电电池供电，该电池通过感应耦合从外部电源充电。存储在外部电源中的能量限制了患者的移动性。更高能量密度的电源增加了可用的能量，同时减小了设备的尺寸。这可以通过使用甲醇水溶液作为燃料的DMFC的外部电源来实现。即使是低浓度（<10%）的甲醇，这是很容易处理的不易燃液体，具有超过Wh/kg的能量密度。DMFC具有用作安全、易于使用、高能量密度电源的能力。DMFC的所有关键特性都已在其他应用中得到验证。该项目将展示一个基于DMFC作为主要能源的台式原型电源。将通过一系列循环模拟体内操作来证明该装置的有效性。拟议的商业应用：随着美国人口老龄化，通过心脏置换术可以挽救的生命数量继续增加。供体器官的数量限制了可以进行的移植数量，不到合格患者的10%。全人工心脏有望帮助缩小差距，每年有数万名患者接受人工心脏。 一个实用的人工心脏需要比现在更有效的电源，而这个项目将生产这种电源。

This project will demonstrate the use of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC's) as power supplies for total artificial hearts (TAH) and permanent ventricular assist devices (VAD). Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the U.S. In many cases a high quality life can be extended through heart replacement. Currently replacements means transplantation, but TAH's now under development offer another choice. In these devices the pump is powered by a rechargeable battery within the patient's body, which is recharged from an external power supply via an inductive coupling. The amount of energy stored in the external power supply limits the patient's mobility. A higher energy density power supply increases the amount of energy available, while reducing the device's size. This can be achieved with an external power supply utilizing a DMFC using aqueous methanol as fuel. Even low concentrations (<10%) of methanol, which are easily be handled non-flammable liquids, have energy densities over Wh/kg. A DMFC has the capability of serving as a safe, easily used, high energy density power supply. All of the key features of DMFC's have been demonstrated for other applications. This project will demonstrate a bench-top prototype power supply based on a DMFC as the prime energy source. The unit's effectiveness will be demonstrated by putting it through a series of cycles to simulate in vivo operation. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: As the U.S. population ages, the number of lives that can be saved through cardiac replacement continues to increase. The number of donor organs limits the number of transplants that can be performed to less than 10% of the eligible patients. The total artificial heart expected to help close the gap, with tens of thousands of patients receiving artificial hearts each year. A practical artificial heart will require a more effective power supply than those available today, and this project will produce that power supply.