Liquidmetal Technologies Inc (LQMT)

[The Paraclete]

Neither titanium, BMGs or the current formulation of stainless steel used for all medical implants are ferromagnetic. In that regard, using BMGs for pacemaker cases has no advantage over titanium or stainless steel. As I see it, the big advantage in using BMGs for pacemaker cases is the cost advantage. It’s expensive to machine those cases via CNC. Turning out thousands of cases via injection molding will lower the cost per case, and in today’s cost conscious milieu, that will be a huge selling point. Another advantage is that cases made from BMGs will be lighter and might be more comfortable for the patient.

Another potential advantage - and this could prove to be the clincher - is that amorphous metals are more transparent to some radio frequencies so it might be possible to recharge the battery in situ (without having to remove the old pacemaker and replacing it with a new one). A pacemaker battery lasts about 5 - 8 years depending on how often it’s triggered. (I’m not up on the latest types of batteries used in pacemakers. So I’m guessing about in situ charging.)