Batteries that break down in the body could power ingestible medical devices

A new type of edible battery can operate inside the body for a limited period before being fully broken down in the gut, offering a way to power temporary internal medical devices.

Ingestible and implantable electronics can be used to monitor the gut, track whether patients have taken their medications or deliver electrical stimulation and are increasingly seen as a less invasive alternative to surgery. But these devices need a power source and conventional batteries often contain materials that are toxic. Alkaline and lithium-ion cells can leak corrosive electrolytes or generate gas if their casing fails and their non-degradable components either need retrieving or are left to accumulate as electronic waste in the gastrointestinal tract.