A New Jersey first, recently approved by the FDA, Abbott’s AVEIR DR is an engineering marvel, providing an innovative option to treat people with slow or irregular heart rhythms

Browns Mills, NJ, January 8, 2024 — Deborah Heart and Lung Center today announced it successfully implanted AVEIR™ DR, the world’s first dual chamber leadless pacemaker system from Abbott that effectively treats people with abnormal or slow heart rhythms. The groundbreaking system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), provides Deborah Heart and Lung Center with a new minimally invasive option to treat the nearly 80% of people who require pacing in two chambers of the heart (both the right atrium and right ventricle).ⁱ

Unlike traditional pacemakers, leadless devices are implanted directly into the heart through a minimally invasive procedure and eliminate the need for cardiac leads. As a result, leadless pacemakers reduce people’s exposure to potential lead and pocket-related complications and offer a less restrictive and shorter recovery period post-implantation.

“We’re pleased to offer this newly FDA approved technology to our patients. This is a first for New Jersey and we are excited to be at the forefront of treatment for arrhythmias. The AVEIR™ DR allows for leadless atrial pacing, which until now was not possible.  It expands the options we have for treating irregular heart rhythms,” said Raffaele Corbisiero, MD, division director, EP and Pacing, Deborah Heart and Lung Center. “In fact, it is estimated that millions of people across the U.S. require pacing in both chambers of the heart. We look forward to using AVEIR DR to help improve the lives of our patients.”

Roughly one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker, the AVEIR DR dual chamber leadless pacing system is made up of two devices – the AVEIR VR ventricular leadless pacemaker, which paces the right ventricle (VR), and the AVEIR AR atrial leadless pacemaker, which paces the right atrium (AR). AVEIR incorporates Abbott’s novel i2i™ technology, which solves a significant engineering challenge by offering beat-to-beat communication between the two leadless pacemakers.

Through Abbott’s proprietary i2i™ communication technology, AVEIR DR devices provide synchronized or coordinated cardiac pacing between two leadless pacemakers based on the person’s clinical needs. i2i technology utilizes high-frequency pulses to relay messages via the naturally conductive characteristics of the body’s blood. Conducted communication is critical because it uses far less battery current than inductive, radio frequency, or Bluetooth^® communication. AVEIR leadless pacemakers are also engineered to be retrieved should a person’s therapy needs change, or they need a replacement device in the future.

1. Mond Harry, Proclemer A. The 11th world survey of cardiac pacing and implantable cardioverter defibrillators; calendar year 2009 – a world society of arrhythmia’s project. PACE. August 2011; 34 (8): 1013-1027

Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey is a teaching hospital in the prevention, diagnosis, research and treatment of heart, lung and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has treated more than 2.3 million hearts from every corner of the United States and 87 countries. From performing the first adult and pediatric open-heart surgeries in NJ, to one of the highest-volume left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant programs in the nation, Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader overall and in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  It is ranked among the top hospitals in NJ for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in North America; and is rated High Performing in five specialties, Heart Attack, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, COPD and TAVR by U.S. News & World Report. Deborah is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.