Medtronic has received CE Mark for its Cobalt and Crome portfolio of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy-defibrillators (CRT-D). ICDs monitor heart rhythms and deliver therapy to correct heart rates that are too fast and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. CRT-Ds, a treatment option for some individuals with heart failure, send small electrical impulses to the lower chambers of the heart to help them beat in more synchronised patterns and reduce patient symptoms.
“Cobalt and Crome heart devices deliver the opportunity of a personalised approach to defibrillator therapy, demonstrating how far we have come in this field,” said Klaus Witte (School of Medicine, University of Leeds, UK). “Moreover, these devices offer seamless patient care through their ability to transmit device and patient data via smartphone or tablet.”
With the launch of the Cobalt and Crome platform, Medtronic also is making TriageHF technology available. This techology assesses patients’ heart failure risk through a simplified, integrated, automatic tool that identifies patient status changes that may lead to worsening heart failure and hospitalisation. TriageHF stratifies patients into three risk categories (high, medium or low) by evaluating factors such as heart rate variability, atrial fibrillation and fluid status. The TriageHF assessment tool is compatible with all Medtronic ICDs and CRT-Ds with the Medtronic OptiVol fluid status monitoring feature, including those currently implanted in patients.
“The Cobalt and Crome devices demonstrate our commitment to enhancing device connectivity and personalised patient care,” said Rob Kowal, chief medical officer of the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division, which is part of the Cardiac and Vascular Group at Medtronic. “These advancements will help physicians respond to patients’ individual needs through informed clinical decision making, potentially improving the outcomes of patients around the world.”
The Medtronic portfolio of therapies, diagnostic tools and services for patients suffering from heart failure includes ICD and CRT devices, including MR-conditional ICDs, CRT-Ds and CRT-pacemakers; mechanical circulatory support therapy for advanced heart failure patients; and heart failure diagnostics.
