Photo: Northwestern University
Engineers at Northwestern University have created a highly advanced, ultra-miniature pacemaker designed for injection via a syringe that is capable of dissolving harmlessly afterward. This new device, designed for temporary pacing, is particularly useful for infants suffering from congenital heart defects as it provides a less invasive alternative when traditional pacemakers are needed. The device is smaller than a grain of rice and can be paired with a soft, flexible, wireless wearable designed to be attached to the patient’s chest. The thermostatic device, when worn, monitors the heartbeat of the individual, and when an irregular heartbeat is detected, it emits a light pulse capable of piercing the skin and activating the pacemaker. “We have developed what is, to our knowledge, the world’s smallest pacemaker,” said Northwestern bioelectronics pioneer John A. Rogers, who led the device development. “Now, we can place this tiny pacemaker on a child’s heart and stimulate it with a soft, gentle, wearable device. And no additional surgery is necessary to remove it.”
|
|
More:
