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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Generation of Murine Cardiac Pacemaker Cell Aggregates Based on ES-Cell-Programming in Combination with Myh6-Promoter-Selection
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Successful pacing using a batteryless sunlight-powered pacemaker.

Andreas Haeberlin1, Adrian Zurbuchen2, Jakob Schaerer2

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland andreas.haeberlin@insel.ch.

Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology
|June 12, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Solar power can now run pacemakers, eliminating battery replacements. A few minutes of sunlight can power a pacemaker for 24 hours, offering a feasible alternative energy source.

Keywords:
Batteryless pacemakerElectrophysiologyEnergy harvestingPacemakerPacingSolar pacemaker

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Renewable Energy in Medicine
  • Implantable Devices

Background:

  • Current cardiac pacemakers rely on batteries with limited lifespans, necessitating replacement surgeries.
  • Pacemaker replacement surgeries are costly and carry risks of complications.
  • A battery-free pacemaker powered by an external, renewable source is highly desirable.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the feasibility of using transcutaneous solar light to power a cardiac pacemaker.
  • To assess the potential of solar energy as a sustainable power source for implantable cardiac devices.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical estimation of harvestable power from a subcutaneous solar module.
  • Ex vivo experiments with solar cells under pig skin flaps using solar simulators and real sunlight.
  • In vivo implantation of a batteryless pacemaker powered by a solar module in a pig model.

Main Results:

  • Subcutaneous solar modules can harvest significant power, with ex vivo measurements yielding median output of 4941 µW/cm².
  • Harvestable power is highly dependent on implantation depth (ρSpearman = -0.86, P < 0.001).
  • Successful batteryless VVI pacing was achieved in vivo using a subcutaneously implanted solar module.

Conclusions:

  • Powering a pacemaker with sunlight is feasible, with potential for a few minutes of sunlight to power a device for 24 hours.
  • Solar energy offers a promising alternative to traditional batteries for future pacemakers.
  • This technology may reduce the need for replacement surgeries and associated risks.