Raffaele Corbisiero, M.D., Director of the Electromechanical Therapy Institute at Deborah Heart and Lung Center, and Chair, Electrophysiology, became the first physician in New Jersey to implant the ENERGEN cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat heart failure and sudden cardiac death.
The new device – developed by Boston Scientific – received approvals in mid-February.
The system is designed to simplify and reduce the time needed for the implant procedure by combining three separate lead terminals into one integrated connector and reducing the number of connections and setscrews needed in the device header. In addition, some patients will receive a remote monitoring system where an at-home communicator will allow physicians to monitor the patient’s device, as well as vital signs such as blood pressure and weight, in order to better manage this complex disease.
“The new DF-4 lead provides a smaller header and therefore a smaller profile for the patient. It is an important step forward in device technology,” said Dr. Corbisiero.
ICDs and CRT-Ds have been proven in clinical studies to save and extend lives by preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) and treating heart failure. Each year, SCD claims the lives of up to 460,000 people in the U.S. alone, and more people die from SCD than from lung cancer, breast cancer, and AIDS combined. (Data supplied by Boston Scientific.)
Nearly 22 million people worldwide currently suffer from heart failure, a debilitating condition in which the heart weakens and gradually loses the ability to pump blood effectively. Approximately one million new cases of heart failure are diagnosed annually worldwide, making it the most rapidly growing cardiovascular disorder.
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