113
Views
13
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Special Report

In the wireless era: leadless pacing

Pages 171-174 | Published online: 10 Jan 2014
 

Abstract

Cardiac pacemakers have been the standard therapy for patients with bradyarrhythmias for several decades. The pacing lead is an integral part of the system that serves as a conduit for the delivery of energy pulses to stimulate the myocardium. However, it is also an Achilles tendon that directly causes most device complications both acutely during implant and chronically years afterwards. Both durability and optimization of the stimulation site are important areas of improvement for manufacturers and implanters. Elimination of the pacing lead and the utilization of other means for energy transfer is the only way to avoid lead complications and allow a better choice of stimulation site. Leadless pacing with ultrasound-mediated energy has been demonstrated in animals and humans in acute studies. This has aroused intense interest in the field of cardiac pacing. With concerted effort from the profession and the industry, leadless pacing may indeed become a realizable concept.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Kathy L Lee is a recipient of research grants from EBR Systems Inc. (CA, USA). The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.