Batteries Not Included: A Self-Powered Cardiac Pacemaker.

Abstract

Since the first electronic pacemaker was implanted in human in 1958, electronic pacemakers have undergone continuous refinement including miniaturization of the devices all the way to a standalone leadless pacemaker capable of right ventricular pacing [1]. Other pacing modalities such as cardiac resynchronization therapy and His-bundle pacing also are available for treatment of selected patients. Biological pacemakers have and continue to be tested in pre-clinical models as a “hardware free” alternative to electronic devices [2,3]. Despite advances in device technologies, there are still limitations of devices such as: infectious complications, over or under sensing/pacing, lack of true autonomic response, and need for generator replacements. One of the recent advances in device technology is the development of battery-less electronic devices that harvest energy from heart beats, muscle stretching, glucose oxidation and endocochlear potentials. In this Nature Communications article [4], Ouyang et al. demonstrated that a symbiotic cardiac pacemaker (powered by a triboelectric nanogenerator which harvest energy from cardiac motion) can successfully pace the heart in a porcine model of sinus arrest. This article not only tested the feasibility of a “self-powered” cardiac pacemaker but also brings hope for the future of next-generation pacemakers, which could potentially co-exist with the patients. The major benefits of this new technology are that we can potentially reduce the size of current generators and there is no need to replace the generator at the end of battery life.