Customizing cardiac implants

While conducting research for this week’s assignment regarding the newest cardiovascular technology, I came across this great article discussing heart implants and them being “tailor-made” (Bourzac, 2014). Current cardiac implants, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, are not custom made as they are basically “one size fits all” (Bourzac, 2014, para. 1). The article discusses researchers who have created a personalized heart sensor using a 3-D printer and their utilization of a stretchy material to create a perfect fit that would increase the level of monitoring and treatment of cardiac implants (Bourzac, 2014). The stretchy material would increase the effectiveness of oxygen monitoring, strain gauges, electrodes, and temperature monitoring as it would be customized to the person’s heart (Bourzac, 2014). An interesting concept presented in the article is the idea of sensors being placed on cardiac implants that could measure acidic conditions (Bourzac, 2014). In addition, light sensors could be placed on this stretchy material and would “provide information about heart-tissue health by identifying areas with poorly oxygenated blood, which is less transparent to light,” and could ultimately identify the occurrence of a myocardial infarction (Bourzac, 2014, para. 5). I think any time we are able to customize a treatment, we are able to better serve our patients and this concept of 3-D printing will most certainly contribute to higher quality patient care.

References:

Bourzac, K. (2014). Heart Implants, 3-D- – Printed to Order. Retrieved from:http://www.technologyreview.com/news/525221/heart-implants-3-d-printed-to-  order/