Light-based graphene 'tattoo' cures heart arrhythmia.
Researchers have developed a graphene "tattoo" implant that can treat cardiac arrhythmia with light. The implant is thinner than a single strand of hair and functions like a classical pacemaker. It softly merges with the heart to simultaneously sense and treat irregular heartbeats. The implant is thin and flexible enough to conform to the heart's delicate contours as well as stretchy and strong enough to withstand the dynamic motions of a beating heart. The technology is optically transparent, allowing the researchers to use an external source of optical light to record and stimulate the heart through the device.