Image Credit: PHOTO CREDIT: John A. Rogers/Northwestern University
Researchers have unveiled the smallest known pacemaker, a groundbreaking medical device measuring just 1.8 by 3.5 by 1 millimeters and weighing only 13.8 milligrams. This innovative pacemaker is smaller than a grain of rice and designed to dissolve within the body once it has completed its function, potentially transforming short-term heart care, particularly for newborns and patients recovering from surgery.
Traditional temporary pacemakers require invasive surgery for both implantation and removal, which can lead to complications such as infections and tissue damage. This new pacemaker, detailed in the journal *Nature*, addresses these risks by eliminating the need for removal surgery. The device can be injected through a small incision, making the procedure minimally invasive.
The pacemaker is powered by body fluids, allowing it to generate the necessary electrical current to stimulate the heart without the use of external wires or batteries. This self-sustaining design not only simplifies implantation but also avoids interference with medical imaging techniques like MRIs and CT scans, a significant advantage for ongoing patient monitoring.
To control the pacemaker, researchers developed a flexible, wearable patch that can detect irregular heart rhythms. When an irregular heartbeat is identified, the patch emits near-infrared light to wirelessly activate the pacemaker, enabling real-time, non-invasive cardiac stimulation.
In laboratory tests, the pacemaker demonstrated effective stimulation across various animal models, including mice, rats, dogs, and pigs, as well as human donor hearts. The ability to implant multiple pacemakers simultaneously may also enhance treatment options for complex heart arrhythmias, allowing for coordinated stimulation across different areas of the heart.
Beyond cardiology, the implications of this tiny device could extend to various fields, including nerve regeneration, wound healing, bone growth, and pain management, indicating a wide range of potential applications in temporary medical interventions.
Future clinical tests are planned to further assess the capabilities of this innovative pacemaker, with the aim of improving cardiac care for some of the most vulnerable patients, such as infants with congenital heart defects. The research team is optimistic about the future impact of this technology on medical treatments.
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