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POPSPower from the people Batteries are good enough for implants that don't need much power, but they run out fast, and when it comes to implants, that is more than just an inconvenience, it is a fundamental limitation. Even devices that do not use much power, such as pacemakers, have a fixed lifespan because they rely on batteries. They usually need their power packs replaced 5 years after implantation. One study in the US found that one in five 70 year-olds implanted with a pacemaker, survived for another 20 years - meaning this group needed around 3 additional operations after the initial implant, just to replace the battery. Each operation is accompanied by the risk of the complications of surgery, not something anybody should have to face if it is avoidable. Other devices such as artificial kidneys, limbs or eyes, would have such high energy demands that users would have to change their power source every few weeks to keep them working. That is where biofuel cells come in.
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