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The Challenges of Tapping Blood Flow For Power

Posted by Soulskill on from the now-taking-test-subject-applications dept.

joshuarrrr writes "Researchers in Switzerland have tested small turbines designed to fit inside a human artery, like an implantable hydroelectric generator. The turbines can draw about a milliwatt of power, which would be enough to run a pacemaker. The problem is that the turbines tended to create turbulence, which can cause blood to coagulate into clots. Competing systems avoid the turbulence but have trouble generating enough power."

1 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. Eureka! by Beelzebud · · Score: 1, Interesting

    A pacemaker powered by the blood it pumps. by golly, I think we found a perpetual motion machine!