title: Microbial fuel cell as power supply for implantable medical devices: a novel configuration design for simulating colonic environment.
abstract: This study focused on providing power for implantable medical devices (IMDs) using a microbial fuel cell (MFC) implanted in human transverse colon. Considering the condition of colonic environment, a continuous-flow single-chamber MFC without membrane was set up. The performance of the MFC was investigated. The power output of 1.6 mW under the steady state was not rich enough for some high energy-consuming IMDs. Moreover, the parameters of the simulated colonic environment, such as pH and ORP value, varied along with the time. Hence, a new MFC configuration was developed. In this novel model, pH transducers were placed in cathodic and anodic areas, so as to regulate the reactor operation timely via external intervention. And two ORP transducers were inserted next to the pH transducers, for monitoring and adjusting the MFC operation efficiently. Besides, colonic haustra were designed in order to increase the difference between cathodic and anodic areas.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Boyang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Chaoling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Fangzhou
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D019736:Prostheses and Implants