Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute Implants World’s Smallest, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Pacemaker
Kansas City, Mo (PRWEB) November 07, 2014 -- Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute announced today its first implant of the world’s smallest pacemaker: the Medtronic Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS). The device was implanted as part of the global pivotal clinical trial.
One-tenth the size of a conventional pacemaker, and comparable in size to a large vitamin, the Micra TPS pacemaker is delivered directly into the heart through a catheter inserted in the femoral vein. Once positioned, the pacemaker is securely attached to the heart wall and can be repositioned or retrieved if needed. The miniature device does not require the use of wires, known as “leads”, to connect to the heart. Attached to the heart via small tines, the pacemaker delivers electrical impulses that pace the heart through an electrode at the end of the device.
“This miniaturized technology is designed to provide patients with the advanced pacing technology of traditional pacemakers via a minimally invasive approach,” said Michael Giocondo, MD, Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute electrophysiologist, who implanted the Mica transcatheter pacemaker. “We are proud that Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute was selected among an elite group of institutions to take part in this clinical trial. If positive, the results of the trial could potentially benefit the more than one million people globally who receive pacemakers each year.”
In contrast to current pacemaker implant procedures, the Micra TPS implant does not require a surgical incision in the chest and the creation of a “pocket” under the skin. This eliminates a potential source of complications and any visible sign of the device.
“The size and technology of this device provides additional benefit to patients,” said Giocondo. “Patients avoid the risk of pacing lead and upper chest implant complications as well as avoiding the pain and discomfort involved with placing a device under the skin.”
The Medtronic Micra TPS is designed for people who have continuous atrial arrhythmias and bradycardia.
The Medtronic Micra TPS is an investigational device worldwide.
About Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, a member of Saint Luke’s Health System and a teaching affiliate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is one of the preeminent cardiovascular programs in the country. Its legacy of innovation began more than 25 years ago when it opened as the nation’s first heart hospital. Since then, the Heart Institute has earned a world-wide reputation for excellence in the treatment of heart disease, including interventional cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, imaging, heart failure, transplant, heart disease prevention, women’s heart disease, electrophysiology, outcomes research, and health economics. With more than 50 full-time board certified cardiovascular specialists on staff, the Heart Institute offers one of the largest heart failure/heart transplant programs in the country, has the largest experience with transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the Midwest, and is a global teaching site for the newest approaches to opening challenging blocked arteries using minimally invasive techniques.
Laurel Gifford, Saint Luke's Health System, +1 (816) 502-8532, [email protected]
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