CHICAGO (Kashmir English): Researchers at Northwestern University have developed the world’s smallest pacemaker the size of a grain of rice.
The wireless, dissolvable device, has been designed to provide temporary cardiac pacing, especially for newborns with congenital heart defects.
Measuring just 1 mm thick, 1.8 mm wide, and 3.5 mm long, the device can be injected using a syringe, eliminating the need for invasive surgery.
Pacemaker operates without batteries or wires
The device operates without batteries or wires, using a galvanic cell that activates when in contact with body fluids, generating enough electrical current to pace the heart.
A wearable patch on the chest continuously monitors heart rhythms and triggers the pacemaker using pulses of infrared light whenever it detects irregularities.
This optical activation replaces conventional radiofrequency systems, enabling a smaller, antenna-free design and reducing risk and discomfort for patients.
“Temporary pacemakers are essential during pediatric heart surgeries. This device simplifies the process and removes the need for a second surgery to extract it,” said lead developer Prof. John Rogers.
The dissolvable feature ensures that the device naturally disintegrates after its job is done, typically within a week, which will help reduce complications like bleeding, infection, or tissue damage generally associated with traditional pacing systems.
Initial studies in animal models and human donor hearts have demonstrated the device’s efficacy across various heart sizes and conditions.
The developers are now advancing toward clinical testing and regulatory approval of the device through a newly formed startup.
The innovation has been published in Nature that could revolutionize post-surgical care for infants and potentially find broader applications in neurology, pain management, and tissue healing.
