An Ultra-thin membrane,
specially customised and 3-D printed to exactly match the patient's heart
shape. Tiny sensors embedded in a grid of flexible electronics measure pulse,
temperature, mechanical strain and pH level with far greater accuracy and
detail than was possible using previous methods. Doctors can determine the
heart's overall health in real-time and predict an impending heart attack
before a patient has any physical signs – intervening when necessary to provide
therapy. The device itself can deliver a pulse of electricity in cases of
arrhythmia.
This electronic membrane can be
installed in a relatively non-invasive procedure, by inserting a catheter into
a vein beneath the ribs and then opening the mesh like an umbrella. At present,
it is restricted to the exterior surface of the heart. However, new and more
advanced versions are now being developed that will go directly inside the
heart to treat a variety of disorders – including atrial fibrillation, which
affects 2.5 million U.S. adults and 4.5 million people living in the EU,
accounts for one-third of hospitalisations for cardiac rhythm disturbances and
is a major risk factor for stroke.
Great progress is now being
made in the monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of heart disorders, thanks to
this and other breakthroughs emerging at this time, all of which are
contributing to a rapid decline in mortality rates. By the 2040s, deaths from
cardiovascular disease will reach negligible levels in some nations.
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