It is a medical device that helps regulate a heart beating too rapidly or slowly by sending electrical signals to the heart’s chambers. The first fully implantable pacemaker was put in a patient in 1958 and ever since, these devices have protected numerous lives.
That event signified the start of a new era for the treatment of heart diseases. In the years since they were invented, pacemakers have been improved over and over again. They are now smaller, work more efficiently and can identify and fix different arrhythmias.
A remarkable recent achievement saw researchers build a miniature pacemaker that is smaller than a grain of rice. It is not only a very small device but also a significant improvement in the world of medical technology. Unlike the usual pacemakers which never leave the body and must be implanted with surgery, this new one is meant to be removed after some time.
It is put inside the body and is controlled from outside using beams of light. The process means the device can dissolve over time which removes the common risks and issues linked to traditional pacemaker removal.
Although human clinical trials are likely years away, the medical field all over the world is already intrigued by this revolutionary pacemaker.
It is being celebrated as an important development that can make cardiac care safer and more flexible. This is especially useful because the device is only meant for a short time and can help patients after surgery or those who experience arrhythmias quickly.
Today, permanent pacemakers are used by millions to treat heart complications. For them, using the implants involves surgery, continuing care and the possibility of issues.
The researchers created the tiny biodegradable pacemaker because they wanted to ease these problems for patients. They sought out to achieve a medical device that could support life for a short period without permanently modifying a person’s body.
It shows how medical science has advanced and where it can still head next. Continued study and development may someday allow this tiny pacemaker to treat heart rhythm issues less invasively and benefit many people globally.
