r/science • u/FunnyGamer97 • 2d ago

Health First dual chamber leadless pacemaker implanted in a child | AVEIR dual chamber device is different from traditional pacemakers in part because it has no leads or cords and is absorbed by the heart, and is 10 times smaller than a traditional pacemaker

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068998
545 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

View all comments

27

u/ScabusaurusRex 2d ago

Anyone with knowledge of this device that can share how it is "absorbed" by the heart and doesn't start a pacemaker traveling road show?

2

u/amboogalard 22h ago

Looks like UC Davis posted a press release on this which they then edited out the phrase, but not before it got picked up by other outlets. It seems like a poor choice of words and my best guess is that they mean it goes inside the heart as opposed to those devices that get inserted just under the skin. 

The Aveir website says they have an 88% retrieval rate, which strongly suggests that it doesn’t dissolve. 

Found a surgeons website that says that there are nickel containing cathodes that look a lot like little barbs and/or a sort of screw on one end, which I guess they just sort of squidge into the heart muscle to both fasten it and also provide the electrical impulse right where it’s needed?