Wireless Pacemaker

A group of young scientists from Rice University in Houston, Texas, has developed a prototype of an artificial rhythm driver. It is a collection of chips the size of a grain of rice, which are implanted in different parts of the heart.

The base station, which is implanted under the skin, recognizes rhythm disturbances and starts the chips, they generate pulses that restore the normal rhythm.

The feature that distinguishes the new pacemaker from others is the creation of an entire network of implantable chips inside the heart. The rhythm drivers currently used are installed in a specific part of the heart and are able to stimulate only one chamber.

The new pacemaker is recharged by radio waves, it does not require replacement and is implanted for life.

The demonstration model was presented on a three-dimensional model of the heart with rhythm anomalies and chips that responded to changes and transmitted data to the base station. That, in turn, sent a command to the chips to generate an impulse that restored the normal rhythm.

According to the idea of the developers, after implantation, the chips will be covered with scar tissue. All information from them to the base station and back will be transmitted via radio waves. The base station will monitor the operation of the heart and, if necessary, start or slow down the operation of the chips.

Before the device is introduced into clinical practice, a large amount of work needs to be done. It is possible that the authors will face a lot of difficulties along the way, because the heart is a unique and difficult environment for electrical mechanisms.

The pacemaker model was demonstrated at the annual George R. Brown Engineering Design Showcase, held at Rice University.

Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on Rice University: Heart is where the chips are, helping keep the beat.