Revolutionizing Medical Implants with Diamond-Enhanced Energy Harvesting

Researchers at RMIT University have developed an innovative 3D-printed diamond–titanium device capable of generating electrical energy from the movement of fluids and receiving wireless power through biological tissue. This advancement could pave the way for longer-lasting implants such as smart stents, drug delivery systems, and prosthetics that operate without the need for battery replacements, and without incorporating active electronics within the implant.

The device leverages a unique combination of lightweight, biocompatible titanium infused with tiny diamond particles. The diamonds endow the titanium with multifunctional properties, allowing it to scavenge energy, sense fluid flow, and wirelessly receive power—features that are not found in conventional implant materials. This technology opens new possibilities for more sustainable and safer implantable devices.

Initial tests involved using saline solutions to mimic bodily fluids, where the device was shown to produce consistent electrical signals from fluid motion. In real-world applications, blood flow across the surface of such implants could similarly generate usable energy, enabling low-power medical devices to operate more efficiently. This could notably enhance early disease detection and monitoring.

The team also demonstrated that the device could be tailored into complex, patient-specific shapes using advanced 3D printing technology. This customization capability suggests future implants could be designed to meet individual patient needs for both mechanical and sensing functions.

Dr. Arman Ahnood emphasized that this breakthrough primarily addresses one of the biggest limitations of current implants—their reliance on batteries, which occupy space and eventually fail, requiring additional surgeries. By harvesting energy from bodily fluids and wireless signals, implants could operate continuously with minimal maintenance.

Beyond medical applications, this technology holds potential for use in industries where sensors need to be embedded in hard-to-access locations using inert, biocompatible materials. The researchers are actively seeking partnerships to further develop and commercialize this groundbreaking innovation.

The research was published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials under the title "Additively manufactured diamond for energy scavenging and wireless power transfer in implantable devices." The findings indicate a significant step toward smarter, safer, and more durable implants that can sense and power themselves, fundamentally transforming the future of biomedical engineering.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-diamond-power-medical-implant-friend.html