# Miniature Pacemakers The Micra TPS is the World's Smallest Pacemaker By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2015-04-21 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/micra-tps References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/micra-tps-smallest-pacemaker/36993/) & [newsroom.medtronic](http://newsroom.medtronic.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=251324&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2034837) The Micra TPS (Transcatheter Pacing System) is a tiny pacemaker -- no bigger than a vitamin capsule -- that can be implanted using a catheter. There have been some remarkably small pacemakers developed in recent years, but none quite this small. Pacemakers are usually surgically implanted in a pocket under the chest skin, causing a visual protrusion. Connected to the heart electrically, these devices can cause complications if the leads get detached. However the self-contained Micra TPS has no electrical leads and is instead attached directly to the heart wall, delivering electrical stimulation via an electrode. Not only does this tiny pacemaker offer more reliable functionality, but it's also less intrusive, thereby allowing heart patients to enjoy more regular lives without attracting attention for an unsightly bulge on the left side of their chests. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.5/10 - Popularity: 19% | Activity: 18% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Seniors](https://www.trendhunter.com/seniors) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Miniature Pacemakers:** The small size and improved functionality of miniature pacemakers offer disruptive innovation opportunities in the healthcare industry. - **Transcatheter Implants:** The use of catheter-based implantation methods for medical devices, such as the Micra TPS, opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for minimally invasive procedures. - **Wireless and Leadless Technology:** The development of wireless and leadless pacemakers, like the Micra TPS, presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the medical device industry. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Healthcare:** The healthcare industry can benefit from the disruptive innovation opportunities presented by miniature pacemakers and transcatheter implantation methods. - **Medical Devices:** The development of wireless and leadless pacemakers, like the Micra TPS, creates disruptive innovation opportunities in the medical device industry. - **Cardiology:** The cardiology industry can leverage the advancements in miniature pacemaker technology to offer more reliable and less intrusive solutions for heart patients. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Advanced Cardiac Treatment Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardiac-treatment-technology.md) - [Wearable Ultrasound Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wearable-ultrasound.md) - [Implantable Pulse Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sentiva-duo.md) - [Card-Sized ECG Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kardiamobile-card.md) - [Rapid Cardiac Protein Sensors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wrist-sensor.md) - [Next-Generation Cardiac Event Monitors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardiac-event-monitor.md) - [Electric Pulsed Brain Implants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inner-cosmos.md) - [Reimagined Comfort-Focused Breast Pumps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-pump.md) - [Advanced Heart-Tracking Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultrasound-patch.md)