Medical Design Briefs - July 2023 - 31

(a)
(b)
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1000
Clear day
Cloudy day
Clear daytime: 10:00-14:00
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Cloudy daytime: 10:00-14:00
Clear nighttime: 22:00-02:00
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Time (Hour)
1
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Time (Hour)
The self-powered TEG can produce electricity on clear and cloudy days (a). The normalized electric power generated by the device under three different conditions (b). (Credit:
Haoyuan Cai/Jimei University)
cooling power of the RCE under normal
sunlight intensity, the researchers
placed the RCE on top of an UBSA with
a larger area. When sunlight hits the entire
device, the unshaded parts of UBSA
absorb the sun's energy to heat up while
the RCE on top begins to cool. The
combination of heating and cooling
creates a temperature difference that is
converted into electricity.
At night or on cloudy days, the temperature
difference is significantly reduced
due to the absence of direct
sunlight. However, there is still some
temperature difference that can be
utilized to generate electricity, albeit
at a lower efficiency compared to a
sunny day.
n Generating Power at Night
To test the device, the researchers conducted
outdoor experiments under different
weather conditions. They monitored
the voltage output of the device
and found that it could generate electricity
continuously throughout the day and
night and during cloudy daylight conditions.
The device achieved a peak voltage
output of 166.2 mV during clear daytime
conditions, enough to power a small sensor
or device. During clear nighttime and
cloudy daytime conditions, it generated
14.7 and 95 mV, respectively.
" Our innovative method for combining
solar heating with radiative cooling
allows the TEG to generate electricity
that is uninterrupted, " says research
team member Haoyuan Cai. " This could
improve access to critical services, particularly
in remote or underdeveloped areas
where traditional power sources are
not available. "
The researchers are now working to
further optimize the device's efficiency,
durability, and scalability and plan to
test its long-term stability and reliability
under various conditions. They also
want to explore the potential for mass
production at a reasonable cost and
make improvements in the device's
performance and adaptability to different
applications.
For more information, contact Jing
Liu, jingliu@jmu.edu.cn or visit www.
optica.org.
Leveraging Edge Computing and Wearable Devices in
Clinical Trials
Edge computing in
wearables improves the
patient experience.
Vivalink
Campbell, CA
In the ever-evolving landscape of
clinical trials, the advancement of edge
computing technology in wearable devices
is revolutionizing the way reMedical
Design Briefs, July 2023
search is conducted. Today, the exponential
growth of data poses significant
challenges for traditional cloud computing
models, which struggle to keep
up with demand. That's where edge
computing comes in. With its ability to
process data closer to its source, edge
computing offers a solution to the limitations
of conventional cloud infrastructure.
By leveraging edge computing,
researchers have an opportunity
www.medicaldesignbriefs.com
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4
to enhance remote patient monitoring
and reshape the traditional clinical trial
paradigm.
Traditional clinical trials often encounter
significant challenges in participant
recruitment, data collection, and
monitoring. The sheer volume of data
generated in today's digital age has outpaced
the capabilities of conventional
cloud infrastructure, resulting in slower
processing speeds, reduced efficiency,
31
Voltage (m V)
Output Power (W/m2)

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Medical Design Briefs - July 2023

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