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Northwestern University researchers have unveiled the world’s smallest dissolvable pacemaker. a medical breakthrough that delivers temporary heart pacing without the need for invasive surgery.
Smaller than a grain of rice, the device can be injected through a syringe and naturally dissolves in the body once it is no longer needed. It pairs with a soft, wireless patch worn on the patient’s chest, which continuously monitors heart rhythms. If an irregularity is detected, the patch sends a gentle light pulse through the skin to activate the pacemaker.
This innovation is particularly vital for infants with congenital heart defects, who often require short-term pacing after surgery. Traditionally, removing temporary pacemakers meant undergoing yet another procedure—but this technology removes that risk entirely.
“Our major motivation was children,” explained Igor Efimov, co-lead of the study. “Now, we can place this tiny pacemaker on a child’s heart and stimulate it with a gentle, wearable device—with no need for another surgery.”
By combining safety, precision, and non-invasiveness, this dissolvable pacemaker could transform post-surgical care worldwide and offer a new standard of protection for vulnerable patients.