May 10, 2017
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Three cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers approved to treat patients with heart failure

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The FDA has approved three quadripolar cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers for the treatment of patients with HF, Medtronic announced.

With the devices (Percepta, Serena, Solara), patients can receive MRI scans through the devices using compatible leads (Attain Performa), which reduce the prevalence of phrenic nerve stimulation, according to a press release issued by the company.

The Percepta CRT-P can measure the effectiveness of each left ventricular pace in patients with atrial fibrillation with an updated algorithm (EffectivCRT) and adjust automatically during AF; it also features an in-office test (VectorExpress 2.0) that aids physicians in determining which pacing configuration will work best for each patient, according to the release.

An algorithm (AdaptivCRT) shown to reduce a patient’s risk for HF readmission after 30 days by 59% is included in the Serena and Percepta CRT-Ps; it also reduces AF risk by 46% vs. echo-optimized biventricular pacing, according to the release. The two devices also have multiple point pacing to stimulate the left ventricle at two different locations.

Anne B. Curtis, MD
Anne B. Curtis

“These new pacemakers allow clinicians to provide more personalized therapy treatment options,” Anne B. Curtis, MD, chair of the department of medicine and Charles and Mary Bauer professor at the University of Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in New York, said in the release. “Their ability to automatically adjust pacing to meet the patient’s needs, even those who are among the most difficult to treat, is an example of how advanced implanted heart device technology has become.”

The devices are projected to be commercially available in early summer 2017 in the United States, according to the release.

Disclosure: Curtis reports consulting for Medtronic, receiving honoraria from Medtronic and St. Jude Medical and serving on advisory boards for Daiichi Sankyo, Novartis and St. Jude Medical.