Scientists from Northwestern University (USA) have presented a unique miniature pacemaker for newborns. The device, the size of a grain of rice, is introduced into the body via a syringe, without surgical intervention. It is placed on the surface of the heart, does not require wires, and works using light pulses sent from an external wearable sensor.
According to statistics, about 1% of children are born with congenital heart defects, and many of them need temporary cardiac pacing after surgery. The pacemaker is activated by bodily fluids and completely dissolves after 1–3 years, eliminating the need for repeat operations.
Such devices could be a real lifesaver, especially in regions where access to high-tech medical care is limited. This is one of those technologies that not only solves a medical problem, but does it with remarkable elegance.
