Energy-Harvesting Pacemaker Comes in a Small Package

French research organization CEA-Leti is spearheading the development of a pacemaker that is eight times smaller than contemporary models. The product of the Heart-Beat Scavenger (HBS) Consortium, which also includes Sorin Group, TIMA, Cedrat Technologies, Tronics, and EASII IC, the device harvests mechanical energy directly from the heart, which enables the pacemaker to forego the need for batteries and the surgeries required to change periodically change them. Not only would doing away with pacemaker batteries improve patient comfort, it would save the healthcare system a significant amount of cash. Treating heart disease is currently one of the biggest healthcare-related costs in both the United States and Europe. One of the most impressive aspects of the research is the device's anticipated size. The researchers expect the finish product to measure 1 cm³.