Imagine a prosthetic limb that never needs to be plugged into a wall. Instead of using a battery, it runs on the natural chemistry of your own body, like using stomach acid or saliva as a power plant. The project also creates 3D-printed muscles that can both shrink and grow, mimicking how real human muscles work.
Implantable medical devices currently rely on batteries that require external recharging or surgical replacement, limiting their operational lifespan and patient convenience.
A computational tool for predicting 3D printing behavior and actuator properties, and a design for an energy-harvesting organ that converts pH differences into electricity.
If you are a prosthetics manufacturer dealing with the limited lifespan of battery-powered implants — this project developed bionic muscles and an energy-harvesting organ that converts body fluid pH differences into electricity. This removes the need for external recharging and invasive battery replacement surgeries.
If you are a robotics developer dealing with rigid actuators that lack human-like flexibility — this project developed 3D printable soft actuating materials. These materials allow for controlled expansion and contraction, offering performance comparable or superior to human muscles.
If you are a wearable tech company dealing with bulky power sources for internal sensors — this project developed a method to harvest metabolic energy from gastric juice and saliva. This enables the creation of energy-autonomous devices that power themselves from the patient's own body.
Based on available project data, there is no specific pricing or cost-per-unit information provided.
The project utilizes 3D printing and self-assembly of colloidal liquid crystals, which suggests a path toward modular and customizable manufacturing based on patient anatomy.
Based on available project data, specific patent or licensing details are not disclosed in the report summary.
The system consists of a biointegrable soft actuator and an artificial organ that harvests energy from pH differences in fluids like saliva and gastric juice.
The project period runs from 2022-06-01 to 2026-05-31.
The consortium is purely academic and research-driven, consisting of 5 partners from 5 countries (BE, CH, FR, IT, NL). With 3 universities and 2 research centers, and a 0% industry ratio, the project is currently focused on fundamental scientific breakthroughs rather than immediate commercial productization.
Contact VELTHA IVZW in Belgium
Contact us to bridge the gap between this academic research and industrial application.
