Biological Electrical Power Extraction from Blood to Power Cardiac Pacemakers

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Abstract
With 1 platinum black on platinum electrode immersed in the blood stream of the left atrium or right ventricle of dogs, and the 2nd electrode placed directly opposite it on the outside wall of the left atrium or right ventricle, the output powers extracted were over 50 microwatts, more than adequate for powering a heart pacemaker. The output power thus extracted remained steady. This observed effect is definitely not a galvanic cell effect, when an iron alloy electrode (or similar consumable type electrode material), together with a platinum black electrode parallel to it, were implanted to sandwich a membrane (muscle tissue or body fluids) with the latter acting merely as the electrolyte of the galvanic cell. The iron electrode mimics the consumable fuel electrode of an ordinary galvanic cell battery. The effect was realized using exclusively inert type platimum black on platinum electrodes which do not react with either blood or tissue. It is in this respect similar to a fuel cell power source in which the electrodes act simply as catalysts and as surfaces for the collection of current. The observed effect is a useful and reliable new biological electrical power source, suitable for powering cardiac pacemakers or other similar electronic devices.

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