University of California , San Diego engineers have developed a powerful new device that employs sensors that " pop up " into heart cells to detect electrical activity without harming the cells. The gadget detects the movement and speed of electrical signals within a single cardiac cell, as well as between numerous cardiac cells, in real-time. This is also the first time that these signals have been detected within 3D tissue cells . The study has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
The tool helps researchers understand more about heart conditions and disorders include arrhythmia, heart attack, and cardiac fibrosis. It is made up of a three-dimensional array of tiny field-effect transistors (FETs) formed like sharp pointed ends. These small FETs can pierce cell membranes without causing damage and are highly sensitive in detecting and tracking electrical impulses from…
