Electrophysiological mapping of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) at high throughput and high resolution is critical for understanding its underlying mechanism and guiding definitive treatment such as cardiac ablation, but current electrophysiological tools are limited by either low spatial resolution or electromechanical uncoupling of the beating heart. To overcome this limitation, we herein introduce a scalable method for fabricating a tissue-like, high-density, fully elastic electrode (elastrode) array capable of achieving real-time, stable, cellular level-resolution electrophysiological mapping in vivo. Testing with acute rabbit and porcine models, the device is proven to have robust and intimate tissue coupling while maintaining its chemical, mechanical, and electrical properties during the cardiac cycle. The elastrode array records epicardial atrial signals with comparable efficacy to currently available endocardial-mapping techniques but with 2 times higher atrial-to-ventricular signal ratio and >100 times higher spatial resolution and can reliably identify electrical local heterogeneity within an area of simultaneously identified rotor-like electrical patterns in a porcine model of chronic AF.

Background Vasectomy remains a safe, simple, and effective contraceptive option. Conflicting data on the trend of vasectomy use among men have been described previously at various snapshots in time over the last two decades. Objectives This paper seeks to describe the trend of vasectomy utilization in the last 15 years using a nationally representative US survey. Materials and methods We analyzed data from male respondents aged 18 to 45 years of the Cycle 6 (2002), 2006–2010, 2011–2013, 2013–2015, and 2015–2017 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) surveys. Population estimates are calculated based on the official NSFG instructions, accounting for the complex survey design. Multivariate logistic regression models are used to study demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with vasectomy use in men. Results Baseline characteristics for men undergoing vasectomy do not differ significantly across survey years. Increased age, White race, marital status, higher education level, birthplace within the United States, higher household income, non‐Catholic affiliation, and higher number of biological kids have significant positive associations with vasectomy use. After accounting for factors associated with vasectomy utilization, there was a significant temporal decline in vasectomy utilization rates in all age groups across survey years which remained in subgroup analyses of all men greater than 25, 30, and 35 years of age. Discussion This is the first population‐based analysis of US data to observe a decline in vasectomy utilization over the past two decades. The decline was statistically significant after accounting for all demographic and socioeconomic factors. Conclusion There is a steady decline in the prevalence of vasectomy use in men from 2002 to 2017. Given the limited contraceptive options for men and the importance of contraception and family planning in the United States, further research is needed to understand the temporal decline.

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