An implantable, rechargeable assembly comprised of an implantable device
disposed within a living organism, an electrical storage device connected
to the implantable device, and a thermoelectric charging assembly
operatively connected to the electrical storage device. The
thermoelectric charging assembly has devices for transferring thermal
energy between the living organism and a thermoelectric module, for
generating an electrical current from the thermal energy, for charging
the electrical storage device with the electrical current, for
determining the extent to which the electrical storage device is being
charged with the electrical current, and for generating a signal whenever
the extent to which the electrical storage device is being charged with
the electrical current falls below a specified value.