Optimization of kinetic energy harvesters design for fully implantable Cochlear Implants

Fully implantable Cochlear Implants (CIs) would represent a tremendous advancement in terms of quality of life, comfort and cosmetics, for patients with profound sensorineural deafness. One of the main challenges involved in the development of such implants consists of finding a power supply means which does not require recharging. To this aim an inertial Energy Harvester (EH), exploiting the kinetic energy produced by vertical movements of the head during walking, has been investigated. Compared to existing devices, the EH needs to exploit very low frequency vibrations (