The worlds smallest body implant to diagnose heart diseases by monitoring the blood chemicals, has been developed by researchers at Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. This small 14mm implant monitors proteins like troponin in blood. The level of this protein can predict if the heart attack is going to occur. The device also tracks the level of chemicals like glucose, lactate, and ATP which helps to monitor other diseases like diabetes. This monitoring information is passed to smartphone using bluetooth technology. The 100 milliwatts battery that powers the implant is worn outside the body and is charged by inductive wireless charging.
Few hours before the heart attack, the heart muscles start breaking down due to lack of oxygen and fatigue. Thus, the level protein specific to the heart muscle “troponin”, increases in the blood. The rythm of the heart beat is also disrupted. If this condition can be detected , pre-emptive measures can be initiated to avoid any further damage to the heart and condition of heart attack. This device is also useful in the case of diseases like cancer that require critical calibration of drug according to the blood condition.