Next-Gen Pacemakers May Be Powered by the Beating of a Hear
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Posted on 22/09/2015
A perpetual motion machine may be sound like a dream in the real world. However, we can reduce the energy loss by new technology or even using our own body. This article assumes that the next-gen pacemakers will be powered by the beating of a heart. A pacemaker, a medical device using electrical impulses to regulate the beating of the heart, is designed to maintain an adequate heart rate and cure some diseases of heart. Methods of pacing is the vital concept of a pacemaker affecting how the device will be made and it can be classified into five categories: Percussive, Transcutaneous, Epicardial, Transvenous, and Subclavicular pacing. Besides, about 60% of the typical pacemaker is dedicated to the battery and it may contribute several problems such as medical risks, inconvenience, and costs of the replacement surgeries when the battery gives out. Therefore, nowadays, scientists invent a piezoelectric-powered pacemaker that decreases the consumption of the energy and lower the risk of surgery compared to the traditional one. This pacemaker is designed from the energy-harvesting module that could replace the batteries on a conventional pacemaker, sitting in the chest cavity and connects to the heart through leads. Nonetheless, leadless pacemakers would be the much better use because it doesn’t require surgeons to open up the chest cavity and prevent leads from eroding. The ultimate goal is still creating a pacemaker powered by the beating of the heart that it regulates.
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Piezoelectric-powered Pacemaker[/caption]
Comment: I think the innovative pacemaker powered by the beating of a heart may be useful and safer for the patient. According to the article, the novel and ideal pacemaker not only prevents the disadvantage of the traditional one including considerations of insertion, lifestyle, risk of turning off and privacy but also creates a personal or customized instrument. Nevertheless, it also has some defects as contagion while implanting the device, incompatible of the body and so on needed to be overcome. I believed that this novel pacemaker will save more lives and release the pain of the heart surgery.
Reference:
What Is a Pacemaker and How Does It Work?(Traditional one)
Mercy - St. Jude Medical - Animation of NanostimTM Leadless Pacemaker(Leadless Pacemakers)
Self-powered Cardiac Pacemaker avoids additional surgeries(Piezoelectric-powered Pacemaker)