Gentle, non-scarring heart-surface pacemaker patch
Atraumatic Non-fibrotic Epicardial Pacing with E-Bioadhesive Devices
['FUNDING_R01'] · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · NIH-11135402
This project works on sticky, electrically active heart patches that attach without piercing the heart to help people who need short-term pacing after cardiac surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11135402 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would receive a soft, electrically conductive patch that sticks to the outside surface of the heart so it can pace the heart without sewing or poking into the tissue. The team aims to make the patch attach gently and resist the inflammation and scarring that cause current temporary leads to fail. Researchers will design the bioadhesive material and test its electrical and tissue interactions in lab and preclinical models before moving toward use in surgical patients. The goal is an easy-to-place, easy-to-remove temporary pacing option that lowers bleeding, perforation, and device-failure risks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people undergoing open-heart surgery who are at risk for slow heart rhythms or heart block and might need temporary epicardial pacing after the operation.
Not a fit: People who do not have heart surgery, or who already require a permanent implanted pacemaker, are unlikely to benefit from this temporary device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make temporary pacing after heart surgery safer and more reliable by avoiding tissue injury and scarring that cause current leads to fail.
How similar studies have performed: This is a novel approach compared with standard wire leads that pierce the heart, with limited prior human testing of adhesive conductive patches for epicardial pacing.
Where this research is happening
CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY — CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ZHAO, XUANHE — MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- Study coordinator: ZHAO, XUANHE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.