Remon Medical Technologies has announced the first European use of its implantable haemodynamic monitor. The Remon ImPressure offers on-demand, non-invasive, leadless self-monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure by the patient at home. ImPressure devices were implanted in four patients, at two sites in Germany. In all four cases, pulmonary artery pressure readings were successfully transmitted to the hand-held home monitor and the clinic unit immediately after the implantation and in subsequent follow-ups.
Remon ImPressure
The Remon ImPressure is introduced percutaneously, via a catheterisation procedure, using jugular or femoral access. The miniature device, based on Remon’s proprietary acoustic technology, is wireless and leadless. The patient uses a portable battery operated hand-held unit to interrogate the implant. The measurement can be taken at home, or away from home, without any special preparation, and without exposing the patient to radiation.
Professor Uta Hoppe, Internal Medicine Department, University of Cologne, Germany, commented, “After implanting the Remon ImPressure, the hand-held home unit provides the patient with a unique tool for self monitoring. This monitor will be easy for my patients to use at home, and is expected to give early warning of the need for treatment, avoiding hospitalisation and deterioration in the patient’s condition.”
Data from the hand-held monitor can be downloaded to a laptop clinic system, displaying a history of the patient’s pulmonary pressure readings. “This graphic display of pulmonary artery pressure waveform will certainly assist in determining optimal treatment for each patient, resulting in better disease management,” added Hoppe.
Professor Horst Sievert, Director of the CardioVascular Center Frankfurt, Sankt Katharinien, commented, “I was impressed by the simplicity and ease of delivering the ImPressure to the pulmonary artery. The physician’s ability to choose between intra-jugular and femoral approaches and the low profile of the delivery system add significantly to the system flexibility.”
Date: Feb/2007
