Researchers from the University of Houston have developed a cardiac patch composed of rubber bioelectronics that can be used for monitoring heart health and treating heart disease.

The rubbery bioelectronic implantable device could potentially replace pacemakers and other cardiac devices, which are generally too rigid, making it harder to monitor a beating heart, or too soft, which limits the amount of data that can be collected by these devices.

Source: The University of Houston

According to its developers, the cardiac patch can simultaneously collect data such as electrophysical activity, temperatures, heartbeats and other signals of heart health.

Compatible with heart tissue, the patch is also powered by energy harvested from the heart’s beating. As such, the patch does not demand an external power source. Additionally, the patch is capable of performing other functions including strain and temperature sensing, electrical pacing, thermal ablation and multiplexed electrocardiogram mapping.