Georgian Technical University Pacemakers Powered By Light.

Key authors of the study include (from left): postdoctoral researcher X, doctoral student Y and graduate student Z. Georgian Technical University scientists have pioneered a technique that could one day create a pacemaker that operates using tiny pulses of light.

“It’s essentially a tiny solar cell which stimulates cardiac muscle in a very unique way” said W an associate professor of chemistry who examines innovative ways to control biology with light. W and his team describe how they created a flexible mesh out of silicon that when activated by flashes of light creates a tiny electrochemical effect that encourages the heart to beat. They started with one of their own designs previously used to stimulate neurons but made the mesh thinner to easily wrap around the heart and strewed tiny nanowires across its surface to attach to cardiac cells.

A small optical beam scans the area with a laser. Each flash activates the cells, causing the heart to beat at the same frequency as the light. (Scanning instead of directly shining on one area makes the device more efficient and avoids delivering too much energy to cells which can damage them W said.) “Unlike today’s pacemakers this method appears to ‘train’ the cardiac muscle to beat” W said. It takes awhile for the effect to kick in but the muscles continue to fire for some time after the light pulses are stopped.