Nature Podcast World’s tiniest pacemaker could revolutionize heart surgery
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Apr 2, 2025 Pascal Geldsetzer, a researcher at Stanford University known for his work on the shingles vaccine and dementia risk, shares insights on groundbreaking medical innovations. He discusses a millimeter-sized dissolvable pacemaker that can be injected, minimizing the need for invasive procedures. This innovative device is controlled by light and shows promise in various medical applications. Geldsetzer also highlights a study linking the shingles vaccine to a significant reduction in dementia risk, suggesting exciting implications for public health.
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Temporary Pacemakers: A Necessary Inconvenience
- Temporary pacemakers are implanted after cardiac surgery to address slow or abnormal heartbeats during recovery.
- These devices can be cumbersome and require invasive removal, posing potential risks to the heart.
New Pacemaker Design
- Current pacemakers involve wires, external power supplies, and monitoring systems, making them inconvenient for patients.
- A new pacemaker design aims to be fully implantable, wirelessly controlled, and biodegradable.
Tiny and Self-Powered
- The new pacemaker is tiny, comparable to a sesame seed, and consists of small metal pads that contact cardiac tissue.
- These pads interact with biofluids to create a battery, eliminating the need for a separate power supply.