Nanolayered PVDF Thin Film Device for Implantable Cardiac Power Generation

研究目的和方法：本研究的目的是设计柔性的多层聚合物薄膜发电机，将心脏运动转化为电能，为自动植入式心脏起搏器和双心室起搏器充电。该方法是工程师的膜厚度，结晶和表面能态，对功率输出的数量级增强。智力优势：虽然充血性心力衰竭患者的平均寿命在植入后增加到15年，但心脏起搏器和起搏器的电池每4-5年更换一次。这种不匹配造成了严重的临床和经济负担。我们的假设是，柔性的，适形的聚（偏二氟乙烯）（PVDF）薄膜包含许多纳米层（每个10-100 nm厚）可以嵌入到当前的心脏内的导致心脏机械运动转化为电能，通过利用压电PVDF。研究内容包括PVDF薄膜发电机的设计、能量产生的表征和优化以及机电耦合效率的测定。更广泛的影响：这项研究为创造强大的，可扩展的，与能量相关的纳米材料和可植入的微系统铺平了道路，这些微系统利用心脏收缩和放松的非凡效率。这些发现将使开发广泛的可调纳米材料，以定制能量转换特性，并在节能生物芯片中具有潜在的应用。该项目将在UT奥斯汀和UT健康科学中心进行。两个校区的生命科学家，工程研究人员，研究生和本科生将在生物医学工程的三个关键新兴领域接受培训，包括生物医学微机电系统，纳米材料和介入心脏病学。

Research Objectives and Approaches:The objective of this research is to design flexible, multilayered polymer film power generators that convert cardiac motion into electrical power to recharge automatic implantable cardiac defibrillators and bi-ventricular pacemakers. The approach is to engineer the film thickness, crystalline and surface energy states, towards orders-of-magnitude enhancement in power output. Intellectual Merit: While longevity of average congestive heart failure patients has increased to 15 years after implantation, batteries for the cardiac defibrillators and pacemaker are replaced every 4-5 years. This mismatch poses significant clinical and economic burden. Our hypothesis is that flexible, conformable poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) films containing many nanolayers (each 10-100 nm thick) can be embedded inside the current intra-cardiac leads to convert cardiac mechanical motion into electrical energy by exploiting the piezoelectricity of PVDF. The research tasks include designing a power generator made of PVDF films, characterization and optimization of energy generation, and determination of mechano-electrical coupling efficiencies. Broader Impacts: This research paves the way towards the creation of robust, scalable, energy-relevant nanomaterials and implantable microsystems that capitalize upon with the extraordinary efficiency of the hearts contraction and relaxation. The findings will enable development of broad classes of tunable nanomaterials to tailor energy conversion characteristics with potential applications in energy efficient biochips. This project will be conducted at UT Austin and UT Health Science Center. Life scientists, engineering researchers, graduate and undergraduate students at both campuses will be trained in three key emerging areas of biomedical engineering, including biomedical microelectromechanical systems, nanomaterials and interventional cardiology.