Innovative Wireless Heart Failure Devices

Two new radiofrequency (RF) systems offer wireless communication with physicians, allowing interrogation and programming of devices without physically connecting to the leads.

The Promote RF cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and the Current RF implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) were developed to treat patients with heart failure and with potentially lethal heart arrhythmias. The devices use a dedicated range of frequencies designated for medical devices called the MICS (Medical Implant Communications Service) frequency band, which helps to prevent interference from other electronic signals. The MICS technology also includes the capability to choose between 10 channels in order to optimize the telemetry link and avoid interference.

The Promote RF CRT-D allows physicians to electronically reconfigure left ventricular (LV) leads to help optimize the pacing performance of the device without the need to physically reposition the lead. In addition, the devices feature a ventricular intrinsic preference (VI) algorithm that is designed to allow the patient's own heart rhythm to prevail when possible. Both devices also feature new patient management tools, such as enhanced patient exercise monitoring that gives the physician information about patient activity levels. Improved lead monitoring capabilities--including painless daily checks of all pacing and shock configurations--provide added patient safety. The systems are a product of St. Jude Medical (St. Paul, MN, USA) and have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"Wireless capability is beneficial to both patients and physicians because it further improves and simplifies device monitoring and management,” said Eric S. Fain, president of St. Jude Medical's cardiac rhythm management division. "In addition, these devices introduce the new consolidated hardware and software platform, which will serve as a springboard for bringing future features and diagnostics to patients and physicians more quickly.”


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