In 2009, the first wireless pacemaker was implanted in a patient in the U.S., but there is still a lot of work that remains to be accomplished. About a year ago, Medtronic offered a sneak peek of a leadless pacemaker under development, and other medical device firms and startups have also announced similar intentions. Advancements in this technology extend to our friends across the pond as well — today, Cambridge Consultants announced its collaboration with EBR systems to develop the first leadless pacemaker to be successfully implanted in early human clinical trials in Europe.
The Wireless Cardiac Stimulation system (WICS) uses a leadless electrode to convert mechanical energy, wirelessly transmitted from an ultrasonic pulse generator, into electrical energy that is used to pace the heart as part of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT).
What are the implications of a leadless pacemaker design? Current CRT pacemakers or defibrillators require the implantation of three leads into the heart, a risky procedure in and of itself, not to mention the additional risk of lead failure and infection after implantation. Eliminating the lead wires while offering the same functionality offers obvious advantages. It also offers the potential to offer a life-saving option to patients who currently cannot benefit from CRT therapy for any number of reasons, including the complexity or limitations of the procedure.
Related: Check out this article on magnetic sensors that enable noninvasive communication with pacemakers.
