Medical offers the opportunity to apply thin-film technology for both thermal management and power generation solutions.

Implantable Devices

All implantable medical devices (IMDs), including pacemakers, defibrillators, drug infusion pumps, and pain management technology require electrical power. One limitation of implantable biomedical devices is the longevity of the battery source. Currently, the longevity of pacemakers and defibrillators ranges from 5 to 10 years depending on the model and pacing requirements. Thin-film thermoelectric generators can convert body heat into usable electricity for the charging of batteries when there's a sufficient difference in temperature.

Thin film TECs can be applied for supplemental cooling of the human body or for things as varied as drug delivery systems. Their size makes them ideal for applications where comfort is an overriding concern.

DNA Amplification

For DNA amplification, the Polymerase Chain Reaction Process (PCR) uses a thermal cycler to systematically raise and lower the temperature of the sample based on a predefined series of temperature steps. Due to their low mass, Nextreme’s thermoelectric devices are particularly well suited for rapid temperature changes while also achieving a uniform temperature distribution throughout the block, or enabling different temperatures in different parts of the block.