On average, pacemaker batteries only last for an average of eight to twelve years until a new replacement is required. Rechargeable batteries provide an appealing substitute for current batteries and work to extend battery life and reduce surgeries needed for a replacement. Currently, energy harvesting has been explored within the body and this design solution aims to explore the energy harvesting applications of the piezoelectric materials polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) within the right ventricle. These piezoelectric materials are able to convert the mechanical energy found within the heart into electrical energy. Here, we design a piezoelectric generator coupled with an arduino powered servo motor that is able to simulate similar heart conditions found within the right ventricle. By simulating different forces onto the PZT generator we were able to obtain voltage upwards of 100V and found that stiffness of the piezoelectric material is directly proportional to voltage output. From this, piezoelectric materials have serious applications for future use in energy harvesting from bodily motions.
Quantify the displacement located within the right ventricle.
Develop a testing mechanism that accurately simulates heart contractions.
Obtain voltage output values from PZT.
Store harvested energy produced from piezo.
Our team took advantage of the campus resources afforded to us by 3D printing the majority of our design solution's moving parts.
We designed these parts, namely the structural matrix, rail/arm, and gear head, in order to fit a servo motor to replicate the displacement from contractions in the human heart.
An arduino working in conjunction with the servo motor parts was used to run a code designed to simulate the contractions found in the right ventricle.
The servo motor was programmed to displace a short distance of the arm across the printed matrix, equal to the distance the walls of the right ventricle move during contraction.