pacemakers – Impact Lab

For decades, modern medicine has fought heart disease with stents, pacemakers, and drugs—tools designed to manage the damage, not reverse it. But what if, instead of patching up the symptoms, we could print the cure?

At the University of Texas at Arlington, a bold team of researchers led by bioengineering professor Yi Hong is doing exactly that. They’re not just designing a device—they’re creating a living, breathing substitute for damaged heart tissue. Their weapon of choice? A 3D-printed, elastic, electrically conductive heart patch that doesn’t just support a failing heart—it teaches it how to heal.

According to the scientists, while pacemakers and other implantable devices are used to monitor and treat irregular heartbeats, these are mostly made with rigid materials that can’t move to accommodate a beating heart.

The patch has been developed with rubbery electronic materials compatible with heart tissue

Researchers have developed a patch made from rubbery electronics that can be placed directly on the heart to collect information on its activity, temperature, and other indicators — an innovation that may help look out for cardiac arrest in vulnerable individuals.

According to the scientists, including those from the University of Houston (UH) in the US, while pacemakers and other implantable devices are used to monitor and treat irregular heartbeats, these are mostly made with rigid materials that can’t move to accommodate a beating heart.

Continue reading… “This electronic patch can monitor, treat heart disease, say scientists”

Tag: pacemakers

Building the Beating Heart: How 3D-Printed Patches Could Make Cardiac Failure Obsolete

This electronic patch can monitor, treat heart disease, say scientists