Medtronic has announced the latest innovation in advanced pacing technology and device miniaturization - the first US implant of the world's smallest pacemaker: the Micra(TM) Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS).
The tiny pacemaker was implanted at NYU Medical Center as part of the Medtronic global pivotal clinical trial. The device, aptly named Micra TPS is an investigational device worldwide.
The Micra TPS stands at a tenth of the size of a traditional pacemaker and is directly inserted into the heart with the help of a catheter inserted in the femoral vein. When the pacemaker device is in place, it is attached to the heart wall and can be adjusted, moved or salvaged.
Unlike previous versions of the device, no wires or leads are required to attach it to the heart. Instead, tiny spikes are used to secure it in place, and electrical impulses are sent and received.
Also, unlike earlier, no surgical creation of a pocket in the chest (as is the case with current pacemaker implants) is required. There is no visible or apparent sign of the device, which could probably signal that this is the future of pacing in cardiology.
The Micra TPS is a breakthrough in disruptive technology as it minimises the damage caused by implantable cardiac devices. It is minimally invasive and more efficient since it is very tiny and is not visible from outside.
