A Self-Powered Wearable Electrical Stimulation Patch for the Treatment of Bone Injuries

A self-powered wearable electrical stimulation patch (TES-TENG) based on friction electric nanogenerator was prepared for the treatment of bone fracture. The TES-TENG consists of a pair of forked finger electrodes (IDTs) and a TENG, and the bionic-designed TES is directly attached to the injured bone. It undergoes deformation and friction during muscle movement and generates a pulsed electrical output, which is then converted to an electric field by the IDT to stimulate bone repair and regeneration. The relationship between the TES-TENG and human motion is explored, and the dynamics of the TES-TENG device is modeled under the conditions of cross-swing, cross-swing, and pendant-swing motions, as well as the flow-mechanism-electricity coupling model between the unit layers. In vitro experiments showed that the self-powered TES-TENG greatly increased the mitochondrial function of bone, thereby promoting bone repair and significantly reducing the degree of tissue inflammatory infiltration and recovery time. X-ray films showed a cure rate of 96% in 55 cases in the experimental group. The results of the study demonstrate the great potential of wearable electrical stimulation patches in the effective treatment of bone injuries.