Tuesday, December 10, 2013

  Smallest pacemaker: Medtronic breaks Guinness World Records' record (VIDEO)

LINZ, Austria -- Medtronic Inc. (NYSE:MDT) announced the first human implant of the world's smallest pacemaker, a vitamin-sized device that is implanted directly inside the heart; the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS) is just one-tenth the size of a of a conventional pacemaker; the device was implanted in a patient in Linz, Austria, as part of the Medtronic global pivotal clinical trial, setting the new world record for the Smallest pacemaker, according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/ .

  Photo: Medtronic announced the first in-human implant of the world's smallest pacemaker, a vitamin-sized device that is implanted directly inside the heart. ( enlarge photo )

The Guinness World Records' record for the Oldest practising doctor (ever) was set by Dr. Leila Denmark (b. 1 February 1898, Portal, Georgia, USA), who retired in May 2001, aged 103, when she was the oldest practicing physician ever. Ten years later, at 113, Dr. Denmark is also the oldest person to have held the title of "Doctor."

  Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the longest working pacemaker still in use; it was fitted into Lesley Iles (UK) on 15 January 1982 and last confirmed on 4th April 2007 to be operating as normal.

  At one-tenth the size of a conventional pacemaker, and comparable in size to a large vitamin, the Micra TPS is delivered directly into the heart through a catheter inserted in the femoral vein.

  Once positioned, the pacemaker is securely attached to the heart wall and can be repositioned if needed. The miniature device does not require the use of wires, known as "leads," to connect to the heart.

  Attached to the heart via small tines, the pacemaker delivers electrical impulses that pace the heart through an electrode at the end of the device.

  The device was implanted in a patient in Linz, Austria, as part of the Medtronic global pivotal clinical trial. The Micra system is an investigational device and is probably ­several years away from availability in the United States.

  "Because of its small size and unique design, the Micra TPS can be introduced directly into the heart via a minimally invasive procedure, without the need for leads," said Clemens Steinwender, M.D., head of cardiology at the Linz General Hospital in Linz, Austria.

 "The combination of this novel technology with a transcatheter procedure can benefit patients by potentially reducing pocket or lead complications and recovery times observed with traditional surgical pacemaker implants."

  In contrast to current pacemaker implant procedures, the Micra TPS implant does not require a surgical incision in the chest and the creation of a "pocket" under the skin. This eliminates a potential source of device-related complications, and any visible sign of the device.

  "Micra TPS is an example of the significant investment we have made in disruptive technology, specifically the miniaturization of implantable cardiac devices," said Pat Mackin, president of the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management business and senior vice president at Medtronic.

  "Less invasive, miniature device technologies show strong promise in improving patient outcomes and implant procedure efficiency. Through our global Micra TPS clinical trial, we intend to generate robust evidence of these benefits to patients and clinicians throughout the world."

  Medtronic, founded in a Minneapolis garage in 1949 by Earl Bakken and his brother-in-law, Palmer Hermundslie, is the world's leading maker of medical devices.

  Medtronic is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and operates in more than 140 countries. The company employs 46,000 people, including 5,800 scientists and engineers, pursuing research and innovation that has led to more than 28,000 patents.

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