Introducing: The World's Smallest Pacemaker

World-Class New Technology: Recently, the Micra pacemaker capsule (a leadless pacemaker) was implanted in two patients living in the north. The implantation was performed at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.

This is a breakthrough in the medical world. The new pacemaker is essentially a tiny capsule, functioning as a standalone pacing unit, without the need for leads. It weighs 2 grams and has a volume of 0.8 mL. The battery life ranges from 10-12 years, compared to the traditional pacemaker whose battery life is 8-12 years.

The capsule is resistant to MRI scans and has the ability to transmit data to a remote monitoring system, recently receiving the FDA's approval.

The device is currently intended for patients requiring a single-lead pacemaker, and thanks to the new technology, they can forgo it and implant the Micra instead.

Unlike traditional pacemakers, the Micra does not require the creation of a surgical "pocket" under the skin, eliminating sources of complications and the absence of external evidence that the patient is carrying a pacemaker.

Dr. Ron Sela, head of the Electrophysiology and Pacing Unit at the Galilee Medical Center, told ynet: "The uniqueness of this procedure is in implanting a pacemaker without leads via a catheterization approach without cuts, without stitches, and without the restrictions and discomfort caused in the chest area. The procedure lasts about half an hour and after a day of observation, the patient is discharged home."

"Those who undergo the procedure live with the feeling that they have no pacemaker at all. The advantages of the new technology are in dealing with preventing complications that are sometimes typical with lead-implanted pacemakers such as: bleeding, infection, etc.", said Dr. Sela.