Biotech
Thursday, June 6th, 2024 3:29 pm EDT
Key Points
- Inspiration from “Mission Impossible” Scene:
- Lee Seok Woo drew inspiration from a scene in a “Mission Impossible” movie where an agent wears contact lenses capable of facial recognition and eye tracking.
- This scene sparked Lee’s interest in developing batteries for smart contact lenses, prompting him to explore the field of wearable technology.
- Development of Safe and Compact Batteries:
- Lee, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University, realized the need for safe and compact batteries for smart contact lenses to advance their development.
- Given the thinness of contact lenses (0.5 mm), the size and flexibility of batteries are crucial to prevent user discomfort.
- Invention of Biocompatible Saline-Powered Battery:
- Lee and his team invented a battery powered by a biocompatible saline solution, offering an alternative to lithium-ion batteries containing flammable materials.
- This battery can be charged using either a conventional wire method or a chemical method, utilizing glucose to react with sodium and chloride ions in the saline solution for charging.
- Tear solution also containing glucose can charge the battery while wearing the contact lens, providing an unconventional power source.
Lee Seok Woo, a scientist at Nanyang Technological University’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, drew inspiration from a scene in a “Mission Impossible” movie to develop batteries for smart contact lenses. His expertise in battery components led him to realize that safe and compact batteries would be essential for advancing wearable technology. Given the thinness of contact lenses, at only 0.5 mm, ensuring the size and flexibility of batteries was crucial to prevent user discomfort. Lee’s team invented a battery that can be powered using a biocompatible saline solution as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which contain flammable materials. This battery can be charged using either a conventional wire method or a chemical method, where the battery is coated with glucose and reacts with sodium and chloride ions in the saline solution to charge. Moreover, tears can also charge the battery while wearing the contact lens, providing an unconventional power source. However, the battery’s current capacity and voltage are low, limiting its applications for now. Lee sees potential partnerships in the healthcare sector, especially for diabetic patients who monitor their glucose levels daily. Despite the innovation’s potential, Lee emphasizes the need to keep costs low, aiming for commercialization with affordable battery prices of only a few dollars.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/06/scientists-develop-ultra-thin-battery-that-could-be-charged-by-tears.html
