Tiny pacemaker developed by scientists can fit in a syringe
The soft device was developed by engineers at Northwestern University to suit the small, fragile hearts of newborn babies with congenital heart defects.
Scientists at Northwestern University unveiled what may be the world's tiniest pacemaker, with new research published in Nature on Wednesday.
Smaller than a grain of rice, the soft device fits in a syringe, so that it can be inserted non-invasively. When no longer needed, the tiny pacemaker dissolves, so that there's no need for a removal surgery.
According to professor Igor Efimov, a co-lead in the study, about one percent of children worldwide are born with congenital heart defects. And though they only need a pacemaker for about a week after a surgery, after which the heart begins to self-repair, those seven days, Efimov said in a press release, are absolutely crucial.
