CardioMEMS implants first wireless pressure sensor to monitor hypertension

Mar 22 2007

CardioMEMS has announced that its wireless pressure sensor was successfully surgically implanted into the wrist of three severely hypertensive patients at Hospital DIPRECA in Santiago, Chile by cardio-thoracic surgeons, Miguel Luis Berr, MD and Michael Tuchek, DO.

Following the implants, Dr. Berr, commented, "As with our previous experience with the CardioMEMS sensor, the device was simple to implant and we expect that the information provided will be very useful in the management of this disease."

The wireless hypertension sensor is a proprietary miniature device developed by CardioMEMS to be positioned just below the surface of the skin above the patient's radial artery using a minimally invasive procedure. The sensor is designed to allow for a precise and accurate measurement of systemic blood pressure using the CardioMEMS proprietary electronics module.

Following the procedure, the sensor and electronics are designed to allow for additional blood pressure measurements to be taken by the patients at home and to transmit the data wirelessly to a secure database where it will become available for review on CardioMEMS' patient management website. The wireless hypertension sensor and the related electronics are being evaluated as part of a clinical trial and are not approved for marketing.

"We believe that this is the first instance of a wireless sensor being used to monitor blood pressure for the management of severe hypertension," commented Jay S. Yadav, MD, Chairman and CEO of CardioMEMS, Inc. "Hypertension, a disease characterized by a chronic increase in blood pressure, is a major cause of heart failure, stroke and kidney failure and is one of the most common diseases in the world. Precise home monitoring of blood pressure may allow patients to have greater control over managing their own health and may also provide additional information for physicians regarding treatment effectiveness."