Nature: 3.5mm-long-pacemaker developed that’s dissolvable in body

Northwestern University engineers have developed a temporary pacemaker that is smaller than a grain of rice, dissolvable in the body, and does not require surgical removal. The research is published in the journal Nature.

The new pacemaker is the smallest such device in the world, as it measures just 1.8 millimeters in width, 3.5 millimeters in length, and 1 millimeter in thickness. It can be inserted into the body via a syringe.

The device is activated by a patch attached to the patient’s chest. In case of arrhythmia, the patch sends pulses of infrared light that penetrate the body’s tissue. These pulses increase the heart’s rhythm, which begins to generate electrical signals to regulate the heart’s rhythm.

The energy source is an original “bio-battery.” When in contact with biological fluids, the two metal electrodes of the device enter into a chemical reaction, producing the necessary electric current.

After performing its function—from several days to several weeks—, the pacemaker simply dissolves in the body like surgical threads.

Scientists have already successfully tested the device on the hearts of animal and human organ donors.

According to the authors of this development, the pacemaker can be used in solutions for neurostimulation, wound healing, and bone tissue regeneration.

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