New York: 

The world’s first wireless pacemaker, developed by an Indian-origin scientist, has shown promising results after one year of human trials.

The device, resembling a tiny, metal silver tube and smaller than a triple-A battery, is only a few centimeters in length, making it less than ten per cent the size of a traditional pacemaker.

“This is the first time we’ve seen one-year follow-up data for this innovative, wireless cardiac pacing technology and our results show the leadless pacemaker is comparable to traditional pacemakers,” said Dr Vivek Reddy, Director of Arrhythmia Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital here, who is the study’s co-investigator.

In comparison to a conventional pacemaker, the new-age leadless pacemaker eliminates the need for a surgical pocket and no visible pacemaker device under a patient’s chest skin, no incision scar on the chest, no connector wires or leads, and no restrictions on a patient’s daily activities. The device’s benefits may also allow for less patient discomfort, infections, and device complications and dysfunction.

“Our latest findings further support the promising performance and safety of this minimally-invasive, non-surgical pacing device. More long-term follow-up of these LEADLESS study patients will further our understanding of the potential advantages, benefits, and complication risks of leadless pacemaker technology, along with additional ongoing, larger trials,” Dr Reddy said.

The study’s long-term follow-up has evaluated 32 patients with a slowed heartbeat, bradycardia at two hospitals in Prague and one in Amsterdam, the hospital said in a statement. The miniature, leadless cardiac pacemaker is placed directly inside a patient’s heart without surgery during a catheter-guided procedure through the groin via the femoral vein. It works by closely monitoring the heart’s ele-ctrical rhythms.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> World> Americas / PTI / May 11th, 2014