Nanotechnology may be able to transform air expelled through the nose during respiration into a source of power which could in turn provide the energy for medical devices implanted in the human head. An excerpt from a Science Daily report:

“‘Basically, we are harvesting mechanical energy from biological systems. The airflow of normal human respiration is typically below about two meters per second,’ says Wang. ‘We calculated that if we could make this material thin enough, small vibrations could produce a microwatt of electrical energy that could be useful for sensors or other devices implanted in the face.’

Researchers are taking advantage of advances in nanotechnology and miniaturized electronics to develop a host of biomedical devices that could monitor blood glucose for diabetics or keep a pacemaker battery charged so that it would not need replacing. What’s needed to run these tiny devices is a miniscule power supply. Waste energy in the form or blood flow, motion, heat, or in this case respiration, offers a consistent source of power.”