Gaining mobile access wirelessly to a power source could be life-altering and potentially life-saving resource when it comes to medical technology and equipment.
This is one of the many reasons why Virginia-based startup WiGL, which stands for Wireless-electric Grid of Local Air Networks, is developing a solution that allows devices to ditch cords and wires via the power of wireless power networks.
Take active implantable medical devices (AIMD) like cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) or drug-delivery pumps. All of those devices require electrical power to operate and rely on long-lasting highly mobile batteries so they don’t have to be replaced during invasive surgeries.
What if wireless power networks could be an alternative source of filling up those batteries, or one day replacing batteries all together?
Medical Advancement Brings Challenges
As medical devices become more functional and complex, and ultimately consume more power, creating suitable batteries or power solutions to meet the challenge can reportedly become a barrier to innovation.
When it comes to replacing these devices, there are significant risks of infections, some even life-threatening. More than half of pacemaker recipients require a replacement, and between 11% and 15% of those require multiple replacements, the company says.
While some scientific researchers are working on innovative devices that are able to harvest energy from the human body to potentially recharge medical devices, WiGL is betting on the ability to connect those harvesting devices to the WiGL enabled power networks. In short, WiGL is building networks of wireless power that could also help in the field of medicine.
The global wireless power transmission market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 23% from 2019 to 2024, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. Major players in the wireless power transmission technology space include Qualcomm Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc.
WiGL, which states that it aims to launch its WiGL-enabled wireless power networking products by the middle of next year, is in a second round of fundraising after raising almost $5 million in 2021. The company reports that it plans to make strategic acquisitions to accelerate touchless wireless power transfer networking (tWPT) in the second half of this year depending on the final amount raised in this second investment phase.
