World's Smallest Pacemaker Can Be Injected Like a Shot

Post by: Bandan Preet

Photo: WAM

Scientists have made a new type of pacemaker that is so small it can fit inside the tip of a syringe. In fact, it’s even smaller than a single grain of rice!

This amazing device was developed by a team of engineers at Northwestern University. What makes it special is that it can be gently injected into the body, without any big surgery. The study about this device was published in the well-known science journal Nature.

Made Especially for Babies

This tiny pacemaker is designed mainly for babies who need help with their heartbeats after surgery. Many babies are born with heart problems. About 1 out of every 100 babies has a heart defect. After surgery, some of these babies need their hearts to be supported for a few days—usually just about a week—until their hearts heal on their own.

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Dr. John A. Rogers, a lead researcher in the team, said, “We believe this is the smallest pacemaker in the world. For babies, small size is very important. The smaller, the better.”

Another researcher, Dr. Igor Efimov, who is a heart doctor, added, “Most babies with heart problems only need help for a short time after surgery. This tiny pacemaker can support them during that important healing time. And the best part is, it dissolves inside the body after it's no longer needed—so no second surgery is needed to remove it.”

How It Works

This pacemaker is used along with a soft, wearable patch that sticks to the chest. If the patch notices that the heart is not beating normally, it sends a light signal to the tiny pacemaker inside the body. The pacemaker then sends gentle electric pulses to help the heart beat properly.

The light signal easily travels through the skin and muscles to reach the pacemaker. This light-based control is what makes the device so small—it doesn't need wires or radio signals like older pacemakers.

The tiny pacemaker also has a special battery. It makes power from the fluids inside the body. This means it doesn’t need a regular battery, and it’s much safer.

Dr. Rogers explained, “We used light to turn the pacemaker on and off. That helped us make it much smaller.”

Before testing it on humans, the scientists first tried it on animal models and donated human hearts. The tests showed that the pacemaker worked well in keeping a steady heartbeat.

What’s Next?

The scientists believe this tiny pacemaker could change the way doctors treat heart problems in babies—and maybe even in adults.

Because the device is so small, doctors might be able to use more than one in different parts of the heart. This could help the heart beat more evenly than with current pacemakers. It might also be used along with artificial heart valves to stop problems from happening.

Dr. Rogers said, “This new technology could do even more in the future. It might help with healing nerves, fixing bones, and even managing pain.”

With more testing and research, this tiny pacemaker could soon be used to save lives—not just for newborns, but for adults too. It’s a big step forward in making heart treatments safer, easier, and more effective.

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