Osaka University scientists create world's first optical pacemaker

Around 1.5 years ago, we got wind of researchers in the UK working up a battery-free pacemaker. Fast forward to now, and we've got yet another breakthrough in the field. Purportedly, a crew of Osaka University scientists have created the "world's first optical pacemaker," and in an article published in Optics Express, the team details how "powerful, but very short, laser pulses can help control the beating of heart muscle cells." In theory, this discovery provides the means for dictating said cells within a controlled setting, which could help researchers "better understand the mechanism of heart muscle contraction." As amazing as we're sure this is to the science world, throwing "lasers" and "heart" into the same sentence just doesn't elicit warm / fuzzy feelings.

[Via Primidi]

[Stem $ell @ Jun 1st 2008 3:07PM]

Well, OK, this explains why my heart gets all fluttery during laser tag!

[David @ Jun 1st 2008 3:43PM]

You think that's a rush, try taser tag!

[packetsniffer @ Jun 1st 2008 4:13PM]

LOL @ taser tag
That sounds amazing

[kjb434 @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:07PM]

Who still plays laser tag?

It's so early 90's

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jun 1st 2008 3:44PM]

Let's hope this can become a reality as it seems like a good step towards a healthier future.

[David @ Jun 1st 2008 3:50PM]

I don't think they're intending to create pacemakers for human use, 'parrently lasers have damaging effects long term. RTRL

[Mam00th @ Jun 1st 2008 4:32PM]

Laser TV are better

[Luke. @ Jun 1st 2008 4:39PM]

Where's switched.com's button at the top gone to? :s

[guerilla779 @ Jun 1st 2008 4:44PM]

hasn't Samsung patented the line " the world's first " :)

[Sean R @ Jun 1st 2008 4:52PM]

Having a pacemaker since I was 2 (now 18) articles like this are the most interesting stuff I read on Engadget. I applaud Engadget for featuring articles like this.

[Stiv @ Jun 1st 2008 5:34PM]

Come back when you figure out how to mount these on a shark.

[Benhur @ Jun 1st 2008 7:21PM]

"powerful, but very short, laser pulses can help control the beating of heart muscle cells".......AND give you fantastic BBQ body odor, too!!

[squeezee @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:33AM]

"As amazing as we're sure this is to the science world, throwing "lasers" and "heart" into the same sentence just doesn't elicit warm / fuzzy feelings."

Oh i'm sure your heart will feel pretty warm and fuzzy after that laser gets done with it.

[warrrennnnn @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:50AM]

Pew pew!

[cdubb @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:18AM]

Being a nurse, and an avid engadget reader, I am always glad to see these medical articles. Thanks engadget team!

[Nikoooo @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:23AM]

Being specialized in short pulse lasers used in cardiac physiology, I have serious concerns about this "new method". It indeed seems they actually disrupted the plasmalemmal membrane of the cells, thus allowing little Ca2+ influx and thus triggering action potentials and contractions.
If this is the case, you can expect the excited cell to dye within a few hours of excitation, which is not great for a pacemaker solution. The other problem to date is to generate a high frequency pulsed laser, you need quite some power, hence it is not portable at all :)

I am pretty amazed to see engadget posting news in such a narrow topic! As a hint, if you guys want to have scientific news with a broad spectrum, look into Science or Nature publications and not into highly focused optic journal :)