Replacing batteries in medical implants often requires surgery, which adds risk and cost. Researchers at RMIT University have developed a new material that could eliminate the need for batteries altogether. Their device combines titanium with microscopic diamond particles to generate electricity from fluid movement and receive wireless power through tissue.
This breakthrough could lead to smarter, longer-lasting implants such as stents, drug delivery systems, and prosthetics. The device works passively, harvesting energy from flowing liquids like blood and receiving wireless signals without active electronics. This makes it safer and more compatible with the human body.
Dr. Arman Ahnood and his team tested the device in saline and found it produced a steady electrical signal. The structure can also be 3D-printed into custom shapes, allowing implants to be tailored to individual patients. Professor Kate Fox noted that the material is lightweight, durable, and electrically active, making it ideal for biomedical use.
The team is now looking for partners to help bring the technology into clinical settings. While still in early development, the device could also be used in sensors for hard-to-reach environments beyond healthcare.
This innovation offers a new way to power implants without relying on bulky batteries. It could improve patient safety, reduce surgical interventions, and open the door to more advanced medical devices.
Article from RMIT: Diamond power could be a medical implant’s best friend
Abstract in Advanced Functional Materials: Additively Manufactured Diamond for Energy Scavenging and Wireless Power Transfer in Implantable Devices
