What’s being called a ‘purse’ made from cells derived from pig intestine could help prevent devices like pacemakers and defibrillators from being dislodged. When that happens it can cause discomfort or compromise its functionality. In addition to that, protection surrounding a device could prevent the risk of infection.
The new device, named the CanGaroo and developed by Cormatrix, is designed to avoid these issues involving dislodged devices. Basically the tissue acts as a pouch until the surrounding tissue eventually grows around it, which takes around 90 days.
According to the Daily Mail, the NHS estimates that around one in 100 people with a pacemaker will develop an infection after implantation, usually in the first year.
Because these cells are also found in the human body, the purse is not rejected as foreign tissue. The protein simply provides extra support for nutrients and blood to help boost the growth of new human tissue.
Professor Martin Cowie, a consultant cardiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital, London, reportedly commented on the technology and said: “Anything that might reduce the risk of infection after implanting a medical device is to be welcomed, although we will need to see the results of further trials. If the initial findings are confirmed this could be an exciting development that could affect thousands of patients.”
