Implantable Med Devices - 3 Smart Technologies to Watch
In the rapidly expanding universe of the Internet of Things, smart medical devices stand out by improving the quality and length of life, as well as efficiency of treatment. Chronic diseases like heart failure, diabetes and hypertension, which affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, are logical targets for smart-device innovators.
Monitoring heart failure patients
Late last month the FDA approved the first permanently implantable wireless sensor designed to enable remote monitoring of a patient’s pulmonary artery (PA) pressure. The device can be implanted in patients with heart failure, a condition that affects about 5.8 million people in the United States, and more than 14 million people in Europe.
Heart failure, the final stage of heart disease, is a progressive weakening of the heart muscle that leaves it unable to pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body. In the U.S. and Europe, heart failure accounts for about 4.6 million hospitalizations annually. Each hospitalization requires invasive tests and creates a lot of stress for patients and their families.
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