World first: Researchers develop tiny, wireless pacemakers

World first: Researchers develop tiny, wireless pacemakers

A team of researchers recently achieved an extraordinary breakthrough in medical technology: the smallest pacemaker in the world, which is even smaller than a rice grain. The innovative approach aims to help children with innate heart defects after operations. This is reported by several sources, including vienna.at .

The pacemaker is so small that it can be recorded with a fingertip. It consists of special materials surrounded by soft edges and two metal plates. This tile flows electricity as soon as they come into contact with body fluids. A light -sensitive switch on the back controls the device in rhythmic pulses, which optimizes its functionality. John Rogers from Northwestern University explains that the development marks significant progress in cardiovascular medicine.

future prospects and practical applications

, however, it could take two to three years for the first tests to take place on humans. Bozhi Tian from the University of Chicago describes the development as groundbreaking for research and sees great potential to support not only children but also adults in recovery after heart surgery.

The new pacemaker is not only wireless, but also biodegradable. This means that it can dissolve in the body as soon as it is no longer necessary, which significantly reduces the risks associated with conventional permanent pacemakers. Many patients currently carry permanent devices that not only increase the quality of life, but also require regular surgical interventions to remove.

Currently about 1% of all children have heart defects and need a pacemaker for some time after an operation. Igor Efimov, co-author of the study, emphasizes that there is an urgent need for temporary pacemakers in pediatric surgery. The new pacemaker can be injected with the help of a syringe, which makes invasive surgical interventions unnecessary.

technological innovation and security

Traditional pacemakers require the connection with cables and electrodes on the heart muscle, which can lead to serious complications. An example of possible risks is the case of the astronaut Neil Armstrong, which died in 2012 after a bypass operation of internal bleeding, while cables from a pacemaker were removed. The new pacemaker should minimize such risks by simply staying in the body without the necessary surgical removal.

The first prototype of the wireless pacemaker used an antenna for signal transmission, which turned out to be impractical. Instead, the team developed a light -sensitive sensor that enables irregularities in the heartbeat to register and react to them. Several pacemakers could even be placed at different points in the heart to control different rhythms and treat arrhythmias efficiently.