Project description
Body biochemical energy to power implantable devices
Implantable biomedical devices such as pacemakers and cochlear implants employ battery systems for power. This significantly limits their operational capacity and necessitates the use of alternative methods of power. The EU-funded INTEGRATE project proposes a radical solution: to power implantable devices by transforming metabolic biochemical energy from the body into electrical energy. Using 3D printing and actuating materials, researchers aim to redesign implantable devices so that they can exploit differences in pH in body fluids to produce electricity and function. INTEGRATE will advance the field of biomedical engineering and develop the next generation of implantable devices not powered by external energy sources.
Objective
State-of-the art implantable actuating devices, such as automated prosthetics, have time-limited operational capacities because they are sustained by batteries which, ultimately, rely on external power sources to be recharged. INTEGRATE proposes a radically new way to solve this problem: use metabolic energy from the patient to power implanted devices. To achieve this ambitious goal, INTEGRATE will develop i) new 3D printable soft actuating materials inspired by human muscles whit high performances and low power consumption and ii) an artificial organ capable of harvesting metabolic (biochemical) energy and transform it into electricity. The actuating materials (Bionic Muscles) will be prepared via self-assembly of biocompatible colloidal liquid crystals and stimuli-responsive polymers. A modular design and 3D printability will offer the possibility to manufacture these materials on the basis of patient’s anatomy and needs. The Energy-Harvesting Organ will be capable of converting pH differences within various body fluids (e.g. gastric juice and saliva) in electricity with high efficiency, providing the necessary power to sustain the Bionic Muscles. This research will revolutionize the field of implantable devices and will represent a turning point in robotics, wearable technologies, materials science, energy conversion, and materials engineering.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine anatomy and morphology
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology implants
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.3.1.1 - The Pathfinder for Advanced Research
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2021-PATHFINDEROPEN-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3080 Tervuren
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.