Pacemaker Tiny Chip

Research in microelectronics are leading Medtronic to assemble the parts of a heart pacemaker-a circuit board, an oscillator, a capacitor, memory, and telemetry for wireless data transfer-into a housing that’s roughly the size of a Tic Tac.  Among other things, this miniaturization portends inserting the device by a catheter rather than open chest surgery.  The sticking problem is the battery, though the company believes it can create or acquire thin-film batteries that will provide sufficient charge.  MORE

Image Credit:  Medtronic and Technology Review