Science makes you control your heartbeat!!

Science makes you control your heartbeat!!

Last year, scientists at Northwestern University announced the development of a defibrillator that is dissolvable when not needed. What's new today is their success in optimizing the device and integrating it into an associated set of wearable sensors, providing a new mechanism that helps better control the heartbeat, according to a New Atlas research paper published in Science.

biodegradation

The original implant was designed for people recovering from heart injury or surgery, or those who need a pacemaker for a short period of time. Within five to seven weeks, or once the patient recovers from whatever condition, the pacemaker biodegrades and is harmlessly absorbed by the body.

Single surgical procedure

The new technology means that only one surgery is required, to initially implant the flexible device in the heart. And since it's powered wirelessly by an external antenna, it doesn't need to be connected to a separate battery, while the device is only 250 microns thick and weighs less than half a gram.

New version improvements

Among the improvements in the new version are its ability to stretch and flex - allowing it to better conform to the surface of the beating heart - plus it now releases an anti-inflammatory drug when dissolved, in order to block the body's external-immune reactions.

The new version of the pacemaker wirelessly connects to four other soft electronic devices, temporarily attached to the skin in various parts of the patient's upper body.

These instruments include a hemodynamic unit on the forehead, which monitors oxygen levels in the blood, oxygen in tissues, and vascular tension; a respiratory unit at the base of the throat, which monitors coughing and other respiratory activities; Combined with the haptic feedback unit, worn anywhere on the body, which vibrates to alert the patient to malfunctions or other problems; The heart unit is located on the chest.

remote monitoring

The latter device operates the pacemaker wirelessly, and monitors the sounds and electrical activity of the heart, plus it constantly adjusts the pacemaker's electrical stimulation patterns based on feedback from itself and other sensors. All data is sent wirelessly to a nearby smartphone or tablet connected to the Internet, allowing the patient's doctor to monitor their condition remotely.

Peace of mind and peace of mind

Professor John Rogers, who is leading the research with researchers Igor Efimov and Rishi Arora, said: “For temporary cardiac regulation, the system obliges patients from monitoring and stimulation devices that keep them confined to the hospital environment. But with [with the new mechanism] patients can recover in the comfort of their own home while maintaining the peace of mind that comes with remote monitoring by their doctors. This would also reduce the cost of healthcare and save hospital beds for other patients.”