A life-saving heart implant that is less likely to give patients nasty electric shocks is being developed by US and UK researchers.
Implantable defibrillators work by applying electric shocks to a heart whose rhythm is out of kilter.
However, they can sometimes go off when not needed.
New Scientist magazine reports that the new version may avoid the problem by more thoroughly assessing electrical activity in the heart.
The new device is being developed by University of Cambridge and Papworth Hospital cardiologist Dr Andrew Grace, who has joined forces with US company Cameron Health of San Clemente.
Initially, the aim was to come up with an implant that was more user-friendly for children, but Dr Grace believes the new version could be of use to thousands of adults too.
He said: "There are serious problems with the current design of defibrillators. Getting a 600 volt shock delivered to the chest unnecessarily can be a very unpleasant experience."
Small area
Standard implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are connected to the heart via wires, and judge how well the organ is functioning by monitoring the small area of tissue that is usually the origin of rhythm disturbances.
However, electrical anomalies in this area are not always mirrored elsewhere in the heart, and are therefore not always significant.
But ICDs still kick in and give the heart an unnecessary shock.
The new device scans the whole heart in the same way as an electrocardiogram (ECG) and will only provide a shock if it picks up a major, organ-wide irregularity.
Like an ECG it uses sensor electrodes and magnets to pick up the electric fields generated by electrical activity in the heart muscle.
The new device is also less invasive than standard ICDs.
Rather than being attached to the heart itself, it fits on the chest just under the skin, and can be fitted using a local anaesthetic.
Cameron Health is hoping to run pan-European human trials later this year.
It is hoped the new device may be suitable not only for people who have a history of heart-rhythm disturbances, but also for people who have had serious heart attacks and who are at greatly increased risk of sudden death from abnormal heart rhythms.
Alison Shaw, of the British Heart Foundation, said ICDs were very safe and helped prolong the lives of many patients with abnormal heart rhythms.
She said: "Patients with an ICD can live a normal life with very few restrictions, but occasionally ICDs can perform unnecessary shocks due to 'false alarm' electrical patterns in the heartbeat.
"Looking at new ways to prevent ICDs firing needlessly would obviously be very reassuring for patients, and we look forward to seeing the progress that Dr Grace's team is able to make.
"However, controlled human trials are needed to establish the safety and efficacy of any new ICD."
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