Reacción a "Pacemaker smaller than a grain of rice developed"

In this work, published in Nature, the group of researchers has developed a new millimetric and resorbable stimulation device that allows for the effective stimulation of cardiac tissue from different chambers.

Among its main innovations is its size, which does not exceed 3.5 mm on its longest axis and is, overall, 23 times smaller than any other absorbable device developed to date. In addition, it offers a temporary stimulation capacity of up to 20 days, which makes it suitable for clinical applications that require temporary stimulation, such as in cases of infections in conventional devices that need to be removed or in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgeries, where the need for long-term permanent stimulation is not clear.

Another new aspect is the use of light in the infrared spectrum, which allows the phototransistor of the device itself to be stimulated practically from the surface of the chest.

Despite its advantages, this device has certain limitations. It is not applicable to all clinical scenarios, as its current design does not allow for permanent stimulation for months or years. In addition, it requires a light source in the near-infrared spectrum, which could pose a clinical problem both because of the possible discomfort of the light and because of the appropriate location of the source.

The implantation procedure, although minimally invasive, can be complex if it is performed on the surface of the heart. In this case, percutaneous implantation could involve more significant complications than those of conventional devices currently available. Likewise, stimulation from the surface of the heart is not physiological and could contribute to heart failure in prolonged stimulation.

For this reason, the viability of implanting this type of device in more physiological regions has not been addressed in this study and would require further research to determine its clinical applicability.