Ilika (LON:IKA) said it has launched a new line of mm-scale solid-state batteries designed for use in medical implants.

The Southampton, England-based company said its Stereax M50 batteries take solid-state batteries to a new level of miniaturization, with form factor choice that may enable medtech innovations that have previously been limited by the available battery technology.

The medtech space is one of the most challenging environments for battery technologies. Batteries need to be small enough to be unobtrusive, enabling implantable devices to be charged in a way that does not restrict a patient. The batteries need to have as long a life-span as possible, avoiding the risks of repeated surgical intervention. They also need to be biocompatible so that they do not pose a risk of leakage.

Compared with standard lithium-ion batteries, Stereax M50 solid-state batteries have longer life spans of up to 10 years (up to 5x longer) and lower leakage currents (10x smaller), making them suitable for low-power wireless charging, according to Ilika. They can also be integrated with other electronic components enabling the end medical device to be kept as small as possible. Stereax M50 batteries yield 50% extra energy density compared to other commercially available solid-state batteries, the company said.

Ilika said it can customize Stereax M50 batteries’ shapes and sizes for applications that require injection into the bloodstream, monitoring heart rhythm or attachment onto the peripheral nervous system for neurostimulation. The batteries enable self-sustaining power sources that do not need to be changed regularly or use inconvenient cabling, the company added.

“The implantable medical device industry has a growing need for miniaturized, long-life power sources to enable wireless data transfer from increasingly sophisticated devices that are improving patients’ lives” said Endotronix chief technology officer Mike Nagy in a statement from Ilika.

“The Stereax product family continues to grow, addressing a wide range of end applications. Medical applications are some of the most demanding environments for battery technology,” added Ilika CEO Graeme Purdy. ”The Stereax M50 is a smaller, safer and longer-lasting battery, opening up the opportunities of life-enhancing medical devices.”