A pacemaker is a small medical device that helps control the heartbeat. When someone’s heart beats too slowly or has an irregular rhythm, the pacemaker sends tiny electrical pulses to make the heart beat properly. It works like a timing device, making sure the heart keeps a steady rhythm so blood can flow smoothly through the body.
Traditional pacemakers are about the size of a cookie. They are placed under the skin in the chest and connected to the heart with thin wires called leads. These leads carry the electrical pulses from the pacemaker to the heart muscle.
The World’s Smallest Pacemaker: The Micra
The Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS) is a revolutionary type of pacemaker. It is the smallest pacemaker in the world—about the size of a large vitamin capsule—and weighs just 2 grams. This tiny device is implanted directly into the heart, with no wires and no need for a chest incision.
Because it is leadless and self-contained, the Micra greatly reduces the risk of infections and other complications that can happen with traditional pacemakers. It also leaves no visible bump on the chest.
Parts of the Micra Pacemaker
Even though the Micra is extremely small, it still includes everything it needs to keep the heart beating correctly:
- Battery – Powers the device for up to 13 years.
- Circuitry – Controls how and when electrical signals are sent to the heart.
- Electrodes – Deliver the electrical impulses to stimulate the heart muscle.
- Tines (tiny hooks) – Secure the device to the heart wall to keep it in place.
All of these components are housed in a single, capsule-sized device.
How Doctors Implant the Micra
Implanting the Micra is a minimally invasive procedure:
- A small incision is made in the groin area.
- A catheter (a thin, flexible tube) is inserted through a vein and guided up to the right ventricle of the heart.
- The Micra pacemaker is delivered through this catheter and attached to the heart wall using its tines.
- The device is tested to make sure it’s working correctly.
- The catheter is removed, and the small incision is closed.
The entire procedure usually takes less than an hour, and most patients go home the same day or the next.
Benefits of the Micra Pacemaker
The Micra has several advantages over traditional pacemakers:
- Tiny size – It’s small enough to fit inside the heart, leaving no scar on the chest.
- No leads – This reduces the risk of complications such as infections or broken wires.
- Fewer complications – Studies show a 63% reduction in major complications compared to traditional pacemakers.
- Long battery life – It can last between 8 and 13 years.
- MRI compatible – Safe to use in MRI machines under certain conditions.
A New Idea: Dissolving Pacemakers
Researchers have also developed a new kind of pacemaker that dissolves in the body. This temporary pacemaker is made for newborn babies who need help right after heart surgery. It is smaller than a grain of rice and can be implanted using a syringe.
This device does not need a battery or wires. It is powered by the body’s natural fluids and receives commands from a patch on the chest that uses light signals. After a few weeks, the pacemaker safely dissolves and disappears, meaning no surgery is needed to remove it.
Pacemakers have come a long way. The Micra represents a giant step in heart care, making the process of getting a pacemaker easier, safer, and more comfortable. With fewer complications and a less invasive procedure, more patients can benefit from this advanced technology.
And with innovations like the dissolvable pacemaker, the future of heart care looks even more promising. These tiny devices may one day help save lives without even leaving a trace. As technology keeps improving, we can look forward to even better and safer solutions for people with heart problems.
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