MIT Develops Ultrasound Heart Device Without Surgical Intervention

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed an ultrasound-based device capable of regulating heartbeats without surgical intervention. The device sends ultrasound waves through miniature transducers on a small adhesive patch placed on the chest to stimulate the heart. The team employed a technique called "acoustogenetics" to make cells more responsive to ultrasound. By modifying heart cells derived from embryonic stem cells, they created ion channels that react rapidly to sound waves. The postage-stamp-sized device features an adhesive layer made from hydrocolloid hydrogels, which conduct sound waves efficiently. Experiments on genetically modified heart cells demonstrated that the cells contracted simultaneously when ultrasound was applied. In trials involving rats, the animals' heartbeats returned to normal shortly after the device was activated. In subjects with irregular rhythm disorders, the beats improved in synchronization with the ultrasound stimulation. While conventional pacemakers represent a safe treatment method, they require direct surgical intervention on the heart. The new approach could offer a less invasive alternative for patients requiring cardiac rhythm management.