Science never ceases to amaze me, especially with all of the technological discoveries being made on almost a daily basis and then finding their way into medicine.

One of the most sought after solutions in our world of gadgets is finding a way to successfully recharge batteries without having to constantly plugging them into some sort of charging station. This is also something that medical researchers are desperate to find as well especially when it comes to things like mechanical hearts.

While these mechanical hearts are often a fine solution until a real heart transplant can take place there is the problem of being able to power those mechanical hearts which means having some sort of power cord poking out of the patients belly.

Well it seems that researchers from the University of Washington and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center are testing a type of wireless power transmission system which uses the concept of induction that works by sending out electromagnetic waves that are then absorbed by receiving unit on the patient that then charges a battery.

From the University of Washington’s statement about the research:

Using the wireless system means no power cord poking through the skin, dramatically reducing the risk of infection and improving the patient’s quality of life. Researchers envision a vest that could hold an external transmitter coil connected to a power cord or battery. A small receiver coil implanted under the patient’s skin would connect to a battery that holds enough power for about two hours, meaning the patient could be completely free for short periods of time to take a bath or go for a swim (current users of heart pumps cannot do either). Longer term, the researchers imagine additional power transmitters placed under a patient’s bed or chair, allowing patients to sleep, work or exercise at home unencumbered.

image via GeekWire