Abbott, the global healthcare company, on Thursday announced the launch of AVEIR VR single-chamber ventricular leadless pacemaker for the treatment of patients in India with slow heart rhythms.
According to the company’s statement, this pacemaker is now approved by Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in India. It is also U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and marks a significant advancement for patient care bringing new features to patients and their physicians.
“People who experience slower-than-normal heart rhythm may receive a pacemaker to deliver pulses of electricity to trigger the heart to beat properly. While traditional pacemakers require a chest incision and pocket for the generator along with one or more insulated wires – known as cardiac leads – to deliver electricity to the heart, leadless pacemakers do not require a pocket or leads. Instead, the device is implanted directly into the heart’s right lower chamber (right ventricle) via a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure from the groin. Therefore, there is no incision made to the chest, no wires, and no pocket in the chest for a generator,” the company said in a statement.
The device has a unique mapping capability designed to allow physicians to measure electrical signals within the heart and determine the best placement of the device before final implantation. The increased projected battery longevity over current available leadless pacemakers opens the door to more patients. In addition, AVEIR is the only leadless pacemaker designed to be retrieved if the device needs to be replaced or therapy needs evolve.
“A leadless pacemaker offers a powerful option for the treatment of people with cardiac arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats. Leadless pacemakers address known complications associated with traditional pacemakers,” said Dr. Balbir Singh, Chairman Cardiology, Max Superspeciality Hospital. He further added, “cardiovascular diseases like heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias form a major component of the chronic disease burden in India, and interventional therapies like pacemakers help improve patient outcomes.”
According to the company, data from the global LEADLESS II investigational device exemption (IDE) study evaluated AVEIR VR in patients with certain abnormal heart rhythms. The results showed the device met its pre-specified primary endpoints. The findings were presented at the annual Scientific Sessions of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) in November 2021 and simultaneously published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Clinical Electrophysiology.
“The AVEIR VR leadless pacemaker was designed to make the implantation and retrieval processes as seamless as possible for physicians and provide improvements over existing options,” said Ajay Singh Chauhan, General Manager for Abbott’s Cardiac Rhythm Management business in India, Southeast Asia, HK, Taiwan & Korea. ” What sets this innovation apart is the impressive battery life and unique mapping capability and retrievability. Our goal is to continue to build on the introduction of AVEIR VR to provide more first-of-their-kind products in the future, revolutionizing how abnormal heart rhythms are treated.”