Researchers have created a groundbreaking prototype for a new kind of leadless pacemaker designed for both children and adults. The innovative micropacemaker would be the first fully leadless system to be placed in the pericardial space surrounding the heart. That would allow the device to be implanted in a minimally invasive way in children and those with congenital heart disease, while also providing a lower-risk leadless pacemaker option for adults.
The small leadless pacemaker does not go through the veins; it is put on the outside of the heart instead of the inside. This means the device could be used for children and those with congenital heart disease, and it could carry fewer risks for adults as well.
The pacemaker does not have to go in the right ventricle. It could pace the left ventricle, which is more ideal for optimizing the cardiac squeeze. In addition, more than one device could be put in, whether added in the atrium to allow dual-chamber pacing (as often done in standard pacemakers with leads) or on the other ventricle for biventricular pacing (also known as cardiac resynchronization therapy). (Image credit: CHLA)
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