by A recent study published in Nature Communications introduces a groundbreaking treatment regimen for ventricular arrhythmia. The research, conducted by the Electrophysiology Clinical Research & Innovations team at THI (Texas Heart Institute) in collaboration with the Biomedical Engineering team at UT Austin, reveals the design and feasibility of a novel hydrogel-based pacing modality.
Ventricular arrhythmia is a serious heart condition that affects the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) and is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in the United States. Re-entrant arrhythmia, a self-sustained abnormality in heart rhythm, is often fatal and occurs due to delayed conduction in scarred heart tissues. This scarring can result from a coronary artery occlusion during a heart attack. The researchers aimed to develop an innovative strategy that addresses the pathophysiology of re-entrant arrhythmia.
Establishing the need for an effective therapeutic regimen for ventricular arrhythmia, Dr. Razavi, a practicing physician and cardiac electrophysiologist, led the THI EPCRI team in collaboration with Dr. Cosgriff-Hernandez and her UT Austin BME team. The researchers worked together to develop a hydrogel-based system that could be used to deliver pacing to otherwise inaccessible regions of the heart.
Hydrogels were chosen as a potential electrode material due to their biostability, biocompatibility, tunable properties, and ability to incorporate electrical conductivity. The scientists explored the possibility of delivering these hydrogel electrodes via coronary veins, allowing for minimally invasive procedures that can avoid ischemia.
The researchers successfully deployed the hydrogel technology in a pig model using minimally invasive catheter delivery. The hydrogels displayed significant conductive properties, enabling pacing from multiple sites along their length. This conduction pattern resembled the native conduction in Purkinje fibers, leading to the creation of a conduction highway.
Currently, arrhythmia is treated with medications and procedures that attempt to control irregular heart rhythms. However, these methods are not always effective and can even facilitate re-entry arrhythmia. Furthermore, they can be toxic and cause damage to tissues near the diseased regions of the heart. Even popular intervention techniques like ablation therapy see arrhythmia recur in a significant number of patients. None of these approaches address the underlying mechanism of re-entry.
Cardiac defibrillators are often used to address the shortcomings of current therapies, but they can be painful and negatively impact a patient’s quality of life due to the electric shocks required to restore normal heart rhythm. If left untreated, arrhythmia can lead to serious complications such as stroke or cardiac arrest, where the heart suddenly stops beating.
The novel hydrogel system developed in this study offers a more efficient and painless treatment approach. When injected into target vessels, the hydrogel conforms to the patient’s vessel morphology. By combining the hydrogel with a traditional pacemaker, pacing is achieved that closely resembles the heart’s natural electrical rhythm. This eliminates the cause of arrhythmia and provides painless defibrillation.
The researchers successfully demonstrated the ability to directly stimulate the native and scarred mid-myocardium using injectable hydrogel electrodes as a pacing modality. With the use of minimally invasive catheter delivery and standard pacemaker technologies, this study establishes the feasibility of a new pacing modality that mimics native conduction. This approach has the potential to eliminate lethal re-entrant arrhythmia and provide painless defibrillation, making it a promising option for clinical use.
The groundbreaking findings of this study hold significant implications for pain management and overall patient wellness in individuals with heart, lung, and blood diseases. The development of a painless defibrillation method and the prevention of arrhythmia could potentially revolutionize cardiac rhythm management.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemicals and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc.
