Long-Term Cardiac Electrical Imaging Enabled by Ultrahigh-Resolution Foldable Heart-Machine Interfaces.

Abstract

The advancement of electrophysiological mapping for cardiac arrhythmias relies critically on overcoming key interface challenges: long-term biocompatibility, spatial resolution limitations, and mechanical mismatch with dynamic cardiac tissue. To address these, we developed a rapid encapsulation method for liquid metal electrode arrays at the 10-μm scale, enabling the fabrication of ultrahigh-density and flexible sensor arrays (∼28570 sensors/cm²) within 30 min. It constructs a fully foldable, high-density heart-machine interface deployable via minimally invasive access (<3 mm folded diameter). The interface achieves high-resolution imaging (in rat, rabbit, and dog models) of microscale electrical heterogeneity (e.g., 0.2 mm² reentrant pattern in ventricular fibrillation) while maintaining long-term reliability (100% electrode functionality over 98 days). This technology holds promise for advancing diverse human-machine interfaces for other organs and tissues, enabling the integration of multiple organs and even the whole body for comprehensive health management.