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Pacemakers, "Heart Sleeve" and the Economics

Pacemakers, "Heart Sleeve" and the Economics. Adam Imran. What is a Pacemaker?. A pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms.

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Pacemakers, "Heart Sleeve" and the Economics

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  1. Pacemakers, "Heart Sleeve" and the Economics Adam Imran

  2. What is a Pacemaker? • A pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. • Pacemakers use electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. • Pacemakers are essentially used to treat arrhythmias. • Pacemakers employ the use of electrical impulses to treat tachycardia and bradycardia • As of recent, Pacemakers have also been used to counter Cardiac Arrests.

  3. The Medical Lingo (for Econ majors like myself) • Arrhythmia: Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. • Tachycardia: Tachycardia is a heartbeat that is too fast. (Varies from person to person, but is said to be a 100 bpm or more in most adults) • Bradycardia: Bradycardia is a heartbeat that is too slow. (Once again, varied from person to person, but is said to be under 60 bpm)

  4. How The Pacemaker works • Faulty electrical signaling in the heart causes arrhythmias. Pacemakers use low-energy electrical pulses to overcome this faulty electrical signaling. Pacemakers can: • Speed up a slow heart rhythm. • Help control an abnormal or fast heart rhythm. • Make sure the ventricles contract normally if the atria are quivering instead of beating with a normal rhythm (a condition called atrial fibrillation). • Coordinate electrical signaling between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. • Coordinate electrical signaling between the ventricles. Pacemakers that do this are called cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. CRT devices are used to treat heart failure.

  5. The Economics (fun fun) • Over the course of the years, pacemaker technology has bettered itself. • This brings better and more potent pacemakers into the market. • Due to availability of the better pacemakers, demand for pacemakers in general has increased, causing an increase in overall prices.

  6. More Economics!! • More than 100,000 pacemakers are installed each year in North America • The North American segment of the market is more than 40%, while Europe makes up for less than 30% of the market. • A higher market size means higher supply.

  7. Some common limitations of Pacemakers • Higher chances of infections at the surgical site (often even after the surgery). • Limitations with respect to magnetic and electromagnetic fields, electric or gas-powered appliances. • Have to be checked every three months or so for maintenance (wires, battery, etc.) • Certain medical procedures become difficult to have, as they may negatively impact the pacemaker (MRIs, Electrocauterization).

  8. The Solution? The “Heart Sleeve” • Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Washington University in St. Louis • Revolutionary new electronic membrane that could replace pacemakers. • Fits over a heart to keep it beating regularly over an indefinite period of time. • Stretchable electronics developed by John Rogers • “spider-web-like network of sensors and electrodes” • Unlike current pacemaker and implantable defibrillator technology, the thin, elastic membrane will be custom-made to fit “snugly” over the real heart. • "When it senses such a catastrophic event as a heart attack or arrhythmia, it can also apply a high definition therapy,”

  9. More about The “Heart Sleeve” • Produced using digital imagery and 3-D printing devices. • Projected to be cheaper to manufacture, easier to install, and consequently cheaper all together. • Compared to the pacemakers, not only does it provide increased QALYS, but also provides an increased total surplus.

  10. Thank You!

  11. Resources • http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pace/ • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/3dprinted-electronic-glove-could-help-keep-your-heart-beating-for-ever-9166004.html • https://dolcera.com/wiki/index.php?title=Cardiac_Pacemakers • http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pace/lifestyle.html • http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140225/ncomms4329/full/ncomms4329.html

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