Blood driven biopower cells: Acquiring energy from reverse electrodialysis using sodium concentrations from the flow of human blood

Abstract

With the growth of the healthcare industry, small scale power sources are needed to support advancements in medical implants, artificial organs, and sensors throughout the body. However, it remains a challenge to find safe, reliable, and stable power sources for these devices. In this study, a miniaturized reverse electrodialysis (RED) biopower cell design using physiological salinity concentration differences between renal bloodstreams is explored for its potential to be used as a power supply for implantable medical devices. Two small scale RED devices produced consistent power for up to three to ten days, depending on the device design. A two-fold decrease in the spacer thickness of the RED biopower cell almost doubled the average power density delivered (from 0.22 mW/m2 to 0.43 mW/m2) for a physiologically relevant salinity concentration difference. The use of an additional (ie. non-biological) salinity source to enhance the concentration difference more than doubled the average power density (from 0.43 mW/m2 to 0.90 mW/m2). In addition, the introduction of a biofouling agent, bovine serum albumin (BSA), was observed on the membrane but did not significantly affect the membrane performance.