Microtech, a subsidiary of cardiovascular medical device company Medinol, has completed the first US implantations of its innovative atrial pressure microsensor.
The procedures were conducted at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the First-in-Human (FIH) study of the microsensor technology.
The FIH study, which aims to enrol around 15 patients across Israel and the US, was led by New York-Presbyterian adult heart transplant surgical director Koji Takeda.
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons professor and Weill Cornell Medicine adjunct professor Nir Uriel is also involved in the study.
Takeda said: “Implantation of the microsensor was easy and took about 5 minutes, requiring a minimal modification to the LVAD implantation procedure.”
Medinol CEO Yoram Richter said: “We are thrilled with the study progress and sensor performance thus far and hope that these will continue, allowing us to demonstrate the feasibility, usability and accuracy of this system.
“Simultaneously, we are working on incorporating microsensors onto existing medical devices, fulfilling the true promise of this technology.”
The atrial pressure microsensor is an advanced device, that features compact size and passive design.
It operates without electronics or an antenna, using ultrasound for signal transmission.
The features allow the sensors to function independently or integrate with existing implants, transforming them into multifunctional therapeutic-diagnostic devices.
The recent US implantations follow the successful integration of five microsensors in patients in Israel.
The US procedures involved patients receiving left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia.
Microtech FIH study primary investigator Uriel said: “The ability to non-invasively monitor both left and right-sided cardiac pressures over time will significantly enhance our ability to optimize care for these patients, allowing us to move past symptoms to parameter-based therapy.
“So far, we’ve been able to easily, repeatedly and accurately measure these pressures in all patients participating in the study.”
