Sorin today announced it received FDA approval for and is beginning the U.S. launch of the SMARTVIEW™ remote monitoring solution for patients with CRM devices. From the press release: “Using the secure SMARTVIEW remote monitoring solution, physicians and nurses following patients with a Sorin PARADYMTM RF device can access valuable cardiac data and alert messages from
Biotronik Receives FDA Approval for Ilesto 7 ICD/CRT-D Series
Biotronik announced that FDA granted approval for its Ilesto 7 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (ICD/CRT-D) series. According to the press release: “BIOTRONIK lives up to its reputation for excellence in design and manufacturing with the introduction of the Ilesto family, and the new Ilesto DX device. Physicians depend on complete and timely information, and Ilesto
Medtronic Announces FDA Approval of Next-Generation CRT-D and ICD IPG Families
Medtronic announced today the FDA approval of its new Viva® portfolio of cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation (CRT-D) devices, and the Evera® portfolio of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD). According to the press release: “The Viva CRT-D significantly improves response rate to the therapy for many indicated heart failure patients, with a demonstrated 21 percent reduction in overall
St. Jude Launches Allure Quadra™ CRT-P IPG with Quadripolar Lead Technology
St. Jude Medical today announced CE Mark approval and European launch of its Allure Quadra™ Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pacemaker (CRT-P), which brings the quadripolar lead technology to the pacemaker market for the first time. According to the press release: “Quadripolar leads allow for increased implant efficiencies, which clinical data indicates can result in fewer surgical revisions.
Sorin Receives Conditional FDA IDE Approval to Study its Paradym CRT-D IPG and SonRtip Hemodynamic Sensor Lead
Sorin announced it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conditional approval for its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application and clinical trial protocol for RESPOND CRT. The trial will study the safety and effectiveness of the innovative SonR cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) optimization system in patients with advanced heart failure. RESPOND CRT is a multi-center,
Biotronik’s Iforia DF4 ICD/CRT-D CE-Approved as Compatible with MRI
Biotronik announced that it had received CE-approval for the world’s first DF4 ICD/CRT-D series approved for MRI. In addition, this series contains one of the world’s smallest ICDs– the Iforia single chamber ICD. Aside from featuring ProMRI®technology, which allows patients to undergo potentially life saving MRI scans, Iforia also includes the industry standard DF4 connector
Boston Scientific Defibrillators Receive CE Mark for 10-Year Longevity Projections
Boston Scientific has received CE Mark approval for increased longevity projections for the INCEPTA™, ENERGEN™, PUNCTUA™, COGNIS® and TELIGEN® implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds). The longevity projections are based on data submitted to the European authorities and vary for each device dependent on the model type and settings. Projected device
Boston Scientific Receives CE Mark for RELIANCE® 4-FRONT™ Defibrillation Lead
Boston Scientific has received regulatory approval to market the RELIANCE® 4-FRONT™ lead, its next generation implantable defibrillation lead now available in Europe and Asia. According to the press release, “The RELIANCE 4-FRONT lead is built upon the demonstrated performance and reliability of the RELIANCE lead platform with design enhancements intended to simplify the implant procedure.
One for History Buffs: Pacemaker Made in Brasil
My friend Daniel Villamil from CCC Medical in Uruguay sent me these pictures of a very unique device in his colection. It is a late-1960s/early 1970s pacemaker made in Sao Paulo, Brasil. UPDATE Oct 3, 2012: CCC’s CEO Julio Arzuaga recalled that this pacemaker was manufactured in the early 1960s by the Instituto de Cardiologia Dante Pazzanese in
TEDxCambridge Talk Calls for Open Data from AIMDs
In this TED talk, Hugo Campos explains his frustration with the fact that his ICD collects data, but he – as a patient – is unable to access these data as a diagnostic tool to help make good choices about eating, exercise and other activities.
St. Jude Starts Trial of Accent MRI Pacemaker and Tendril MRI Lead
Today St. Jude announced the first implant in its Accent MRI(R) Pacemaker and Tendril MRI(R) Lead IDE Study (MRI Study). The ultimate goal of the study is to determine if patients with these devices can safely undergo full-body, high resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans to better accommodate their medical needs. The investigational Accent MRI
Digikon’s History
In response to my post “A Challenge to History Buffs: Who Was Digikon?“, Paolo Pagani sent me the following message: “Digikon was in the years 1977-1985 the brand name product in Italy by Biotec Biomedical Technologies of Bologna – ITALY. Pacemakers were a Digikon O.E.M. production for the trading company of Milan Italy KONTRON already
St. Jude Warns Physicians of Potential Problem with QuickSite and QuickFlex LV CRT Leads
St. Jude announced it is proactively informing physicians about visual observations of externalized conductors on the silicone end of QuickSite® and QuickFlex® Left-Ventricular Leads, used to connect Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy devices to the heart. The announcement noted that there have been no reports of patient injury or loss of therapy due to externalized conductors in
St. Jude Medical Announces Clinical Benefits of Quadripolar CRT Pacing at ACC
St. Jude Medical announced that clinical findings on quadripolar pacing will be presented at the 61st Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology (ACC, Chicago, March 24-27 2012). According to St. Jude’s announcement, quadripolar pacing allows physicians the ability to use multisite left-ventricular (LV) pacing. Studies that examined the role of multisite pacing in improving hemodynamics and
Medtronic Receives CE Mark for CapSure Sense MRI™ SureScan® Pacing Leads
Medtronic today announced the receipt of CE Mark and launch of the CapSure Sense MRI™ SureScan® pacing leads, which are approved for use during MRI procedures. The newly approved leads are the smallest MR–Conditional leads available in the world with a 5.3 French isodiametric lead body. The new leads are passive-fixation leads. Previously approved Medtronic MR–Conditional leads





