CE mark for Cobalt and Crome portfolio of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillators.- Medtronic

Medtronic plc has announced it has received CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark for its Cobalt and Crome portfolio of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization 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 synchronized patterns and reduce patient symptoms. 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 hospitalization. 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. This newest generation of implantable heart devices also includes several “smart” features: Intrinsic ATP (iATP), available on Cobalt XT ICDs and CRT-Ds, is the only automated algorithm that adapts to a patient’s irregular heart rhythms and attempts to reset them with painless pacing therapy, possibly avoiding the need for shocks. This ventricular anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) provides individualized therapy in real-time and is paired with Medtronic-exclusive SmartShock 2.0 shock-reduction technology. The devices also feature improved longevity and energy output. This is the first Medtronic ICD and CRT-D portfolio to offer connected health with BlueSync Technology, which enables the implanted devices to communicate with the tablet-based CareLink SmartSync Device Manager for physicians, and the MyCareLink Heart mobile app for patients. The new CRT-Ds also include the EffectivCRT algorithm and the AdaptivCRT algorithm, which adjusts therapy according to minute-by-minute evaluations of each patient’s heart rhythm. AdaptivCRT has been shown to increase patients’ response to CRT; reduce unnecessary right ventricular pacing; reduce the likelihood of 30-day heart failure hospital readmissions; and reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation. In addition, AdaptivCRT is associated with improved patient survival.