Next-Gen pacemakers could be powered by heartbeats

"An experimental study finds a beating heart may produce enough energy to power an implantable pacemaker or defibrillator.
 British researchers used a microgenerator powered by heartbeats, and found the heart was able to provide 17 percent of the power needed to run an implantable pacemaker. A pacemaker works by sending electrical signals to the heart to either slow down or speed up cardiac rhythms, while an implantable cardioverter defibrillator signals the heart to normalize its rhythm if it begins beating too fast or too slow. The study's findings may lead to a new generation of pacemakers that incorporate the new technology, resulting in more durable devices with added functionality that help manage the heart, the researchers said Monday. 'This was a proof-of-concept study, and we provided the concept,' said Paul Roberts, M.D., first author of the study and a Consultant Electrophysiologist at Southampton University Hospital in the United Kingdom. The researchers presented their findings at the American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans" - redOrbit