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。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命。目前替换意味着移植，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，该电池通过电感耦合从外部电源充电。储存在外部电源中的能量限制了病人的行动能力。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DMFC作为燃料的外部电源来实现。即使是低浓度（<10%）的甲醇，这是易于处理的非易燃液体，其能量密度也超过Wh/kg。DMFC是一种安全、易用、高能量密度的电源。DMFC的所有关键特性都已在其他应用中得到验证。本项目将展示一个基于DMFC作为主要能源的台式原型电源。该装置的有效性将通过一系列循环来模拟体内操作来证明。拟议的商业应用：随着美国人口老龄化，通过心脏置换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移植的数量，不到符合条件的患者的10%。全人工心脏有望帮助缩小这一差距，每年有数万名患者接受人工心脏治疗。一个实用的人造心脏将需要比现有的更有效的电源，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.