Scientists at Purdue University
have designed a novel in-vivo pressure sensor which generates power by
absorbing low frequency sounds, such as the bass frequencies of most
music.The sensor consists of an ultra-sensitive cantilever which vibrates at certain frequencies, generating an electric charge. This charge is stored within a capacitor until the vibrations stop, at which point the charge is used to transmit a signal through the tiny on board transmitter. The signal is generated from a membrane based pressure sensor at the tip of the device. The absence of an internal power supply allows the device to be smaller and less intrusive, and alleviates the need for recharge or replacement. The current design is less than two centimeters in length.
This device would allow pressure measurements to be made continuously and transmitted to a nearby oscilloscope. It could be used in the urinary bladder to assist those suffering from incontinence, or in the blood sac of an aneurism to monitor blood pressure. A patent has been filed for this design, and it will be showcased in a paper presented at an international electrical engineering conference in Paris on February 2nd of this year.
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