Project My Heart Your Heart: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Global Health
• Medical Device Recycling

Background:

• Millions die annually from bradyarrhythmias in low-income countries due to lack of pacemaker access.
• Tens of thousands of used pacemakers are available in developed nations for potential reuse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of recycling used pacemakers for patients in low-income countries.
• To address the ethical and logistical challenges of pacemaker reuse.

Main Methods:

• Conducted surveys on attitudes towards pacemaker recycling among patients, healthcare professionals, and funeral directors.
• Performed pilot studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of reused devices.
• Received and evaluated nearly 15,000 explanted pacemakers.
• Developed and refined sterilization and device processing methods.

Main Results:

• Pacemaker recycling is deemed safe and effective.
• Public, patients, and cardiovascular specialists generally support the practice.
• Optimal methods for device removal, interrogation, sterilization, and implantation are being defined.

Conclusions:

• Pacemaker recycling is a viable solution to address the unmet need for bradyarrhythmia treatment in underserved populations.
• Continued collaboration with regulatory bodies like the FDA is crucial for large-scale implementation.
• A pivotal study in five countries is planned to further validate the practice and optimize protocols.