1. What Happened?
Engineers at Northwestern University have developed a pacemaker so tiny that it can fit inside the tip of a syringe and be non-invasively injected into the body.
Smaller than a grain of rice, this pacemaker is paired with a soft, flexible, wireless wearable device that mounts onto a patient’s chest to control pacing. When the wearable device detects an irregular heartbeat, it automatically shines a light pulse to activate the pacemaker.
These short pulses penetrate through the patient’s skin, breastbone, and muscles to control the pacing. Designed for patients who only need temporary pacing, the pacemaker dissolves after it’s no longer needed, eliminating the need for surgical extraction.
2. What Is Good About It?
- Minimally Invasive: The pacemaker can be injected through a syringe, reducing the need for surgical procedures.
- Dissolvable Design: Made from biocompatible materials, the pacemaker dissolves naturally in the body after use, eliminating the need for removal surgery.
- Light Activation: Operated by an external wearable device that emits light pulses to activate the pacemaker, providing a non-invasive control method.
- Pediatric Focus: Particularly beneficial for newborns with congenital heart defects, offering a temporary solution during critical recovery periods.
3. Why Leads to Positive Change?
- Enhanced Safety: Reduces the risk of complications associated with traditional pacemakers, such as infections and internal bleeding from external wires.
- Improved Patient Comfort: The dissolvable nature of the device means patients avoid additional surgeries for removal, leading to a more comfortable recovery.
- Broader Applications: The technology could be adapted for use in other medical devices, potentially transforming treatments for various conditions.
- Global Impact: By providing a low-cost, minimally invasive solution, this innovation has the potential to improve cardiac care accessibility worldwide.
