Technology

The micro generator is a catheter-mounted device that can be placed on a conventional pacemaker or defibrillator lead.

Using pressure responsive balloons within the right atrium & ventricle, advantage is taken of the pressures generated in the heart during the cardiac cycle to drive a reciprocating linear generator. In normal function, the atrium contracts first, compressing the atrial balloon & driving the generator mechanism in one direction; then the ventricle contracts, compressing the ventricle balloon & driving the mechanism back to its ‘starting’ position. The reciprocating movement of the mechanism generates the electricity used to power implanted devices.

 Placement of the generator is uncomplicated and is fully compatible with existing techniques for implanting cardiac devices.

Two design conditions were demanded from the clinician team, the first being that the power had to be generated from “involuntary” human activity and that the implant procedure had to remain unchanged to avoid re-training and ensure market adoption was maximised.

These design objectives have been achieved in the development to date.