Development of a Fully Implantable Mechano-Electrocardiogram (MECG) Sensor for Comprehensive Cardiac Monitoring

To accurately diagnose heart disease, it is important to monitor both the electrical and mechanical aspects of the heart simultaneously. Previously, these aspects have been assessed separately using electrocardiogram (ECG) and medical imaging techniques. Newly developed implantable devices named mechano-electrocardiogram (MECG) sensors now allow simultaneous measurement of mechanical electrocardiogram (MCG) and ECG. The device uses permeable electrodes on a flexible nanofiber mat to rapidly adhere to tissue. Strain-insensitive electrodes are used for ECG and strain-sensitive electrodes are used for MCG. When implanted over the rat heart, the MECG sensors demonstrated that MCG amplitude correlated with blood pressure changes induced by a vasoconstrictor (phenylephrine), whereas ECG peak intervals more closely matched heart rate fluctuations. These results highlight the clinical importance of MECG devices for continuous and comprehensive monitoring of both electrical and mechanical cardiac properties.