Abbott’s Aveir DR Dual-Chamber Pacemaker Used in First Surgeries

Abbott celebrated the company’s (and world’s) first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system implants. The procedures were part of the company’s AVEIR DR i2i pivotal clinical study, evaluating the Aveir dual-chamber leadless pacemaker.
 
Unlike traditional pacemakers, leadless pacemakers are implanted directly into the heart via a catheter-based surgery. Leadless pacemakers can reduce lead-related complications and offer a less restrictive recovery time because of the minimally invasive procedure.¹ Leadless pacing options have historically been limited to single-chamber devices because synchronizing two leadless pacemakers has been very difficult.
 
Abbott designed “i2i technology” for beat-by-beat communication between two leadless pacemakers, one in the right ventricle and one in the right atrium. The tech regulates heart rate synchronously between chambers for true dual-chamber leadless pacing.
 
Aveir DR is also retrievable, and allows real-time mapping to assess therapy delivery and reposition the device before implant during the procedure.
 
The first implant took place a Prague, Czech Republic’s Na Homolce Hospital.
 
“The first-in-human implant of a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker is a major clinical milestone that will open up new possibilities for patients requiring pacing support,” Dr. Daniel J. Cantillon, clinical trial co-chair, told the press. “Abbott has designed a device capable of treating these patients, and we’re excited to see this technology advance patient care.”
 
Abbott’s investigational Aveir VR pacemaker recently met pre-specified primary endpoints in its pivotal trial.
 
“As leadless pacing technology has evolved, we’ve always viewed dual chamber leadless technology as a therapy evolution that would have a dramatic impact on more patients—but a technology that was going to be very challenging to develop,” said clinical trial steering committee co-chair Dr. Reinoud Knops. “That we’ve reached this point in time where dual chamber pacing without leads has become a reality is a monumental moment for modern medicine.”
 
Reference
¹ Sattar Y, Ullah W, Roomi S, Rauf H, Mukhtar M, Ahmad A, Ali Z, Abedin MS, Alraies MC. Complications of leadless vs conventional (lead) artificial pacemakers – a retrospective review. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2020 Aug 2;10(4):328-333. doi: 10.1080/20009666.2020.1786901. PMID: 32850090; PMCID: PMC7427453.