Tiny But Mighty: Injectable Pacemaker Powered by Body Fluids, Disappears After Use

cardiac care, particularly for vulnerable populations such as infants and children. This innovative device, smaller than a grain of rice, is designed to dissolve harmlessly after use, thereby eliminating the need for surgical removal . Powered by body fluids through a galvanic cell and activated by near-infrared light from an external patch, this pacemaker offers a less invasive alternative to traditional temporary pacing methods . The reduced size and biocompatibility of the device not only enhance patient safety but also mitigate the risks associated with conventional pacemakers.

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.

When the pacemaker is no longer needed, doctors or nurses pull out the wires, which can sometimes cause damage.

Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon, died from internal bleeding after his temporary pacemaker was removed in 2012.

But the newly developed pacemaker is wireless. And at just one millimetre thick and 3.5 millimetres long, it can fit into the tip of a syringe.

It has also been designed to dissolve into the body when no longer needed, sparing patients invasive surgery.

Rogers is the Louis Simpson and Kimberly Querrey Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Neurological Surgery at Northwestern—where he has appointments in the McCormick School of Engineering and Feinberg School of Medicine—and the director of the Querrey Simpson Institute of Bioelectronics.

Efimov is a professor of biomedical engineering at McCormick and professor of medicine (cardiology) at Feinberg. Rogers and Efimov co-led the study with Yonggang Huang, the Jan and Marcia Achenbach Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering at McCormick; Wei Ouyang, an assistant professor of engineering at Dartmouth College; and Rishi Arora, the Harold H. Hines Jr. Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago.

Moreover, the injectable pacemaker addresses critical challenges in pediatric heart surgery where temporary pacing is often required due to congenital heart defects or post-operative recovery needs . Its ability to function effectively within the human body while being powered by natural bodily fluids exemplifies an innovative approach to medical device design. As researchers continue to explore multiple uses of this technology in various cardiac locations, it holds promise for revolutionizing temporary pacing protocols in clinical settings

Read more

Sarah H

Also on site :

• Tom Hanks’ daughter recalls actor having to ‘track down’ her and brother amid mother’s mental health troubles
• Tom Cruise holds moment of silence for Val Kilmer: ‘Think about all the wonderful times’
• Jean-Claude Van Damme accused of knowingly having sexual relations with 5 trafficked Romanian women