Scientists Implant Biofuel Cells Into Rats

RedmondChris writes "A team of scientists from Joseph Fourier University in France have successfully implanted biofuel cells into rats, generating 6.5 microwatts by harnessing the power of glucose. From the article: 'The device uses enzymes to harvest energy from glucose and oxygen found naturally in the body. Past attempts at using such a device in animals have failed because the enzymes have required acidic conditions or were inhibited by charged particles in the fluid surrounding cells. But Philippe Cinquin and his team from Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble, France, overcame these obstacles by confining selected enzymes inside graphite discs that were placed into dialysis bags. Glucose and oxygen flowed into the device, but enzymes stayed in place and catalyzed the oxidation of glucose to generate electrical energy.'"

Re:Diabetics

[compro01]

That should be hyperglycemic. Hypoglycemic means the blood sugar is too low.

Re:Enough power for a pacemaker?

[hrvatska]

I had heard that current rechargeable pacemakers aren't as popular as the non-rechargeable units because they're much bigger and bulkier than non-rechargeable units.

Re:Why just blood sugar?

[Jesus_666]

Yeah, it sounds nice on paper but that's 0.6 Essence and 8,000 Nuyen you're looking at, chummer. Sure, if you rely on DocWagon to save your hide that display might just give them the time to do so but if you catch a bullet you don't need a chunk of cyberware to tell you you're bleeding. Well, unless you're a chrome junkie with a pain editor, in which case the 0.6 Essence ain't an issue anymore.

Re:Enough power for a pacemaker?

[pinkushun]

The maximum power of the device was 6.5 microwatts, which approaches the 10 microwatts required by pacemakers.

"I'm optimistic that we will get tens of milliwatts in future versions," he says.

"Reading TFA", suuuure...