Lightweight Power Source for Heart Assist Devices

描述（由申请人提供）： 长期目标是为需要心室辅助装置的患者提供更大的移动性和生活质量。该方法是开发直接甲醇燃料电池（DMFC）技术，该技术将以电池重量的一小部分提供更长时间的电力。DMFC技术有望将电源的重量减少一个数量级，这将使心脏辅助装置（HAD）患者的生活质量大大提高。第一阶段的具体目标是开发非常轻便的电池堆技术和先进的膜/电极组件（MEA），以提供有效和可靠的长期运行。第一阶段的研究计划要求设计和制造的堆栈组件，开发和测试新的催化剂配方和MEA制造方法，并集成的MEA与堆栈组件，以证明一个完整的燃料电池堆的性能。最后，来自第一阶段测试的数据将被用作完整电力系统设计的基础，展示极高能量密度的潜力。技术创新的潜力很高，因为该计划侧重于使DMFC技术得到更广泛使用的关键挑战。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long term objective is to enable greater mobility and quality of life for patients who require ventricular assist devices. The approach is to develop direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology that will provide power for much longer periods at a fraction the weight of batteries. DMFC technology promises an order of magnitude reduction in the weight of the power source, which would enable a much greater quality of life for heart assist device (HAD) patients. The specific aims of Phase I are to develop stack technology that is very lightweight and advanced membrane/electrode assemblies (MEAs) that provide efficient and reliable long-term operation. The Phase I research plan calls for design and fabrication of stack components, development and testing of new catalyst formulations and MEA fabrication approaches, and integration of the MEAs with the stack components to demonstrate the performance of a complete fuel cell stack. Finally, data from Phase I testing will be used as the basis for the design of a complete power system, demonstrating the potential for very high energy density. The potential for technological innovation is high, because the program focuses on the key challenges that will enable more widespread use of DMFC technology.