A Non-Resonant Kinetic Energy Harvester for Bioimplantable Applications

A linear non-resonant kinetic energy harvester for implantable devices is presented. The design contains a metal platform with permanent magnets, two stators with three-dimensional helical coils for increased power generation, ball bearings, and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) package for biocompatibility. Mechanical excitation of this device within the body due to daily activities leads to a relative motion between the platform and stators, resulting in electromagnetic induction. Initial prototypes without packaging have been fabricated and characterized on a linear shaker. Dynamic tests showed that the friction force acting on the platform is on the order of 0.6 mN. The resistance and the inductance of the coils were measured to be 2.2 Ω and 0.4 µH, respectively. A peak open circuit voltage of 1.05 mV was generated per stator at a platform speed of 5.8 cm/s. Further development of this device offers potential for recharging the batteries of implantable biomedical devices within the body.