Researchers believe a new chip that reads the body’s breathing signals to control the heartbeat could be more effective than a pacemaker.

A heartbeat naturally varies with each breath; it is faster when inhaling and slower when exhaling.

Pacemakers are set to a regular heart rate which prevents the heart from beating too quickly, too slowly or irregularly.

However, researchers believe that this new chip could facilitate more controlled heartbeat. When tested on rats, the chip boosted the blood being pumped around the body by one fifth.

The British Heart Foundation is funding the research with the hope that the chip will one day revolutionise the design of pacemakers.

Read more at fht.org.uk/IT-133-chip