Key TakeawaysResearchers are developing a minimally-invasive temporary pacemaker that eliminates some risks associated with traditional pacemakers.The new pacemaker can dissolve into a nontoxic material at the end of the treatment.Clinical trials are still needed, and it might take another few years for the new pacemaker to reach the market.Scientists at the University of Chicago developed a new kind of minimally-invasive pacemaker that dissolves over time.This technology also eliminates certain risks that come with traditional pacemakers.About 200,000 pacemakers are implanted in the United States each year to treatarrhythmia(irregular heartbeat) and heart failure.Electrical or magnetic devices, such as headphones and metal detectors, can interfere with the electrical signaling in these traditional battery-powered pacemakers.“Our approach employs light, eliminating the need for direct electrical connections, thus sidestepping most of the EMI [electromagnetic interference] issue,”Bozhi Tian, PhD, a professor of chemistry at The University of Chicago and one of the developers of the new pacemaker device, told Verywell in an email.The new pacemakers use lightweight silicon membranes to adhere to the heart’s exterior and implantable optical fibers to regulate the heart rhythm, according to Tian.Tian said this new method is extremely precise, allowing for “nearly limitless customization of pacing sites” with ease.The new device is designed for short-term use, which could improve the options for people who only need a temporary pacemaker while recovering from heart surgery.Existing temporary pacemakers have an external power supply and control system that could accidentally get dislodged, Tian added. The wires could also damage the heart muscle when they’re being removed.Although some wireless pacemakers exist, most pacemakers bring electrical impulses to the heart with wires that can malfunction or spread infection.Healthcare providers have to remove traditional pacemakers with invasive surgery, but the new lightweight pacemaker dissolves into a nontoxic material after a few days.“Once you implant it into the patient’s body, you don’t need to worry about retrieving it, like with traditional pacemakers. It can function during the course of treatment, and after the course of treatment, it just dissolves,” said Pengju Li, a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and an author of the study on the new pacemaker.When Will This New Pacemaker Be Available?The researchers hope to bring the new pacemaker to patients within five years after conducting clinical trials and submitting for FDA approval.“Several technical obstacles still need to be addressed, such as enhancing the implantation methods for the pacemaker and its optical fiber elements,” Tian said.Mohit Turagam, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital who’s not affiliated with the pacemaker study, said he expects it will take another 10 years before this device can be used in regular practice.“I would first see how this goes in human trials, at least in terms of safety and feasibility and side effects in the long term before this can be used in all of our patients,” Turagam told Verywell.Existing pacemakers use “sophisticated algorithms” to keep the heart going, and it’s unclear if the new pacemaker functions similarly or better than traditional devices, he said.“The heart is such a complex structure, and there are so many nuances that go into it,” Turagam said. “So it will be interesting to see how it actually matches with whatever is available right now.”What This Means For YouThe new light-controlled pacemaker could improve outcomes for people who need heartbeat-regulating devices following surgery. However, the technology is relatively new and clinical trials still need to be conducted.
Key TakeawaysResearchers are developing a minimally-invasive temporary pacemaker that eliminates some risks associated with traditional pacemakers.The new pacemaker can dissolve into a nontoxic material at the end of the treatment.Clinical trials are still needed, and it might take another few years for the new pacemaker to reach the market.
Key Takeaways
Researchers are developing a minimally-invasive temporary pacemaker that eliminates some risks associated with traditional pacemakers.The new pacemaker can dissolve into a nontoxic material at the end of the treatment.Clinical trials are still needed, and it might take another few years for the new pacemaker to reach the market.
Scientists at the University of Chicago developed a new kind of minimally-invasive pacemaker that dissolves over time.This technology also eliminates certain risks that come with traditional pacemakers.
About 200,000 pacemakers are implanted in the United States each year to treatarrhythmia(irregular heartbeat) and heart failure.Electrical or magnetic devices, such as headphones and metal detectors, can interfere with the electrical signaling in these traditional battery-powered pacemakers.
“Our approach employs light, eliminating the need for direct electrical connections, thus sidestepping most of the EMI [electromagnetic interference] issue,”Bozhi Tian, PhD, a professor of chemistry at The University of Chicago and one of the developers of the new pacemaker device, told Verywell in an email.
The new pacemakers use lightweight silicon membranes to adhere to the heart’s exterior and implantable optical fibers to regulate the heart rhythm, according to Tian.
Tian said this new method is extremely precise, allowing for “nearly limitless customization of pacing sites” with ease.
The new device is designed for short-term use, which could improve the options for people who only need a temporary pacemaker while recovering from heart surgery.
Existing temporary pacemakers have an external power supply and control system that could accidentally get dislodged, Tian added. The wires could also damage the heart muscle when they’re being removed.
Although some wireless pacemakers exist, most pacemakers bring electrical impulses to the heart with wires that can malfunction or spread infection.Healthcare providers have to remove traditional pacemakers with invasive surgery, but the new lightweight pacemaker dissolves into a nontoxic material after a few days.
“Once you implant it into the patient’s body, you don’t need to worry about retrieving it, like with traditional pacemakers. It can function during the course of treatment, and after the course of treatment, it just dissolves,” said Pengju Li, a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and an author of the study on the new pacemaker.
When Will This New Pacemaker Be Available?
The researchers hope to bring the new pacemaker to patients within five years after conducting clinical trials and submitting for FDA approval.
“Several technical obstacles still need to be addressed, such as enhancing the implantation methods for the pacemaker and its optical fiber elements,” Tian said.
Mohit Turagam, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital who’s not affiliated with the pacemaker study, said he expects it will take another 10 years before this device can be used in regular practice.
“I would first see how this goes in human trials, at least in terms of safety and feasibility and side effects in the long term before this can be used in all of our patients,” Turagam told Verywell.
Existing pacemakers use “sophisticated algorithms” to keep the heart going, and it’s unclear if the new pacemaker functions similarly or better than traditional devices, he said.
“The heart is such a complex structure, and there are so many nuances that go into it,” Turagam said. “So it will be interesting to see how it actually matches with whatever is available right now.”
What This Means For YouThe new light-controlled pacemaker could improve outcomes for people who need heartbeat-regulating devices following surgery. However, the technology is relatively new and clinical trials still need to be conducted.
What This Means For You
The new light-controlled pacemaker could improve outcomes for people who need heartbeat-regulating devices following surgery. However, the technology is relatively new and clinical trials still need to be conducted.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Li P, Zhang J, Hayashi H, et al.Monolithic silicon for high spatiotemporal translational photostimulation.Nature. 2024;626(8001):990-998. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07016-9Bhatia N, El-Chami M.Leadless pacemakers: a contemporary review.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2018;15(4):249-253. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2018.04.002National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pacemakers.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Living with a pacemaker.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Li P, Zhang J, Hayashi H, et al.Monolithic silicon for high spatiotemporal translational photostimulation.Nature. 2024;626(8001):990-998. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07016-9Bhatia N, El-Chami M.Leadless pacemakers: a contemporary review.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2018;15(4):249-253. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2018.04.002National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pacemakers.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Living with a pacemaker.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Li P, Zhang J, Hayashi H, et al.Monolithic silicon for high spatiotemporal translational photostimulation.Nature. 2024;626(8001):990-998. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07016-9Bhatia N, El-Chami M.Leadless pacemakers: a contemporary review.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2018;15(4):249-253. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2018.04.002National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pacemakers.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Living with a pacemaker.
Li P, Zhang J, Hayashi H, et al.Monolithic silicon for high spatiotemporal translational photostimulation.Nature. 2024;626(8001):990-998. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07016-9
Bhatia N, El-Chami M.Leadless pacemakers: a contemporary review.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2018;15(4):249-253. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2018.04.002
National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pacemakers.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Living with a pacemaker.
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