title: A percutaneously implantable fetal pacemaker.
abstract: A miniaturized, self-contained pacemaker that could be implanted with a minimally invasive technique would dramatically improve the survival rate for fetuses that develop hydrops fetalis as a result of congenital heart block. We are currently validating a device that we developed to address this bradyarrhythmia. Preclinical studies in a fetal sheep model are underway to demonstrate that the device can be implanted via a minimally invasive approach, can mechanically withstand the harsh bodily environment, can induce effective contractions of the heart muscle with an adequate safety factor, and can successfully operate for the required device lifetime of three months using the previously-developed closed loop transcutaneous recharging system.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Adriana N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Vest
authors.forename: Ramen H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Chmait
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bar-Cohen
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pruetz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silka
authors.forename: Kaihui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.forename: Gerald E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Loeb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001919:Bradycardia; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000503:physiopathology; D006327:Heart Block / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008904:Miniaturization; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011247:Pregnancy; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012756:Sheep; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal