Patient monitoring  

First European implants of Ramon pulmonary artery pressure monitor

18 October 2006. Deutsch Francais

Caesarea, Israel. The first set of patients in Europe have received implants of the Remon ImPressure haemodynamic monitor from Remon Medical Technologies, Inc. The medical device offers on-demand, non-invasive, wireless self-monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure by the patient at home.

ImPressure devices were implanted in four patients, at two sites in Germany. In all four cases, pulmonary artery pressure readings were successfully transmitted to the hand-held home monitor and the clinic unit immediately after the implantation and in subsequent follow-ups.

Professor Dr. Uta Hoppe, of the Internal Medicine Department, University of Cologne noted that "After implanting the Remon ImPressure, the hand-held home unit provides the patient with a unique tool for self monitoring. This monitor will be easy for my patients to use at home, and is expected to give early warning of the need for treatment, avoiding hospitalization and deterioration in the patient's condition."

Data from the hand-held monitor can be downloaded to a laptop clinic system, displaying a history of the patient's pulmonary pressure readings. "This graphic display of pulmonary artery pressure waveform will certainly assist in determining optimal treatment for each patient, resulting in better disease management," added Professor Hoppe.

The Remon ImPressure is introduced percutaneously, via a simple vein catheterization procedure, using jugular or femoral access. The miniature device, based on Remon's proprietary acoustic technology, is wireless and leadless. The patient uses a portable battery-operated hand-held unit to interrogate the implant. The measurement can be taken at home, or away from home, without any special preparation, and without exposing the patient to radiation.

Professor Dr. Horst Sievert, Director of the CardioVascular Centre Frankfurt, Sankt Katharinien, commented: "I was impressed by the simplicity and ease of delivering the ImPressure to the pulmonary artery. The physician's ability to choose between intra-jugular and femoral approaches and the low profile of the delivery system add significantly to the system flexibility."

Hezi Himelfarb, Remon's CEO, said: "We are excited to see our device implanted for the first time in Europe, as part of a trial to meet the requirements for CE mark regulatory approval. Our device demonstrates the inherent value of Remon's unique acoustic communication. We believe that our technology has many other applications that will dramatically impact several areas within medicine".

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