The Accent and Anthem product family features RF telemetry which enables secure, wireless communication between the programmer used by the clinician and the implanted device, making an integrated system of pacing devices with wireless telemetry from implant through follow-up. Wireless communication is used when clinicians implant the device and during follow-up appointments that can be performed in the office or via remote monitoring with the patient at home thus allowing for more efficient and convenient care and device management.
“The introduction of the Accent RF and Anthem RF products represents the next step taken by St. Jude Medical in health care connectivity involving implantable devices,” said Eric S. Fain, M.D., president of the St. Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management Division. “We designed the pacemakers in response to the physician and patient needs for intelligent products that streamline testing and follow-up, as well as to facilitate an exchange of information between the physician and patient. Using the remote monitoring capabilities, physicians will be able to stay abreast of device function and the patient’s condition, enabling a more timely response to the patient’s evolving needs.”
The remote monitoring capabilities facilitated by the Anthem RF and Accent RF device product line will permit an automated follow-up and a daily device safety checks with no patient action required. Apart from all these giving physicians fast access to device performance data, the wireless monitoring system also allows physicians to compile a complete patient record by transferring cardiac device data into electronic health records (EHRs).
“Device implants and follow-ups are performed more quickly and easily with the wireless technology available in these devices,” said Johannes Sperzel M.D., from Kerckhoff Klinik in Bad Nauheim, Germany.
To better assist physicians in accurately managing and diagnosing patients with fast rates in the heart’s upper chambers (atria), the devices will include a new AT/AF Alert feature. The feature is designed to notify physicians when a rapid atrial rate (atrial tachycardia/atrial fibrillation [AT/AF]) exceeds a programmed value or occurs over an extended period of time. The devices can be programmed to notify the patient of AT/AF episodes, as well as device- and lead-related issues, via a two-tone audible alert. Apart from all these the patient’s clinic can be informed through the home monitoring system. These features allows physician to more proactively manage patients’ atrial arrhythmias, like AF, with appropriate medication or ablation.
“The wireless communication automates patient home monitoring, as no patient interaction is required for data transmission. Diagnostic data and alerts can be transmitted automatically to the clinic, providing me with more timely notification of clinical events and better patient care,” said Professor Karlheinz Seidl, M.D., from Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
The Anthem RF CRT-P and Accent RF pacemaker include advanced automatic features which help to promote patient safety and efficiency for the clinician. It can be programmed to automatically adjust and monitor the level of electrical energy needed to stimulate the patient’s heart, in the chambers where therapy is delivered; which includes up to three chambers for cardiac resynchronization therapy. The devices are able to do this by measuring the heart’s reaction to electrical stimulation from the device and confirming that heart is responding to the stimulation. This AutoCapture Pacing System feature provides dual benefit of added safety for the patient and also increased efficiency for physicians, as vital threshold tests are performed automatically and results are available on-demand during follow-up via a simple device interrogation for the physician to review. The launch of the Anthem RF and Accent RF devices’ automatic test results can be accessed wirelessly or remotely in a clinic for a complete pacemaker family, including a CRT-P, and single- and dual-chamber models.
The devices are also equipped with the St. Jude Medical QuickOpt Timing Cycle Optimization feature. This feature can recommend the optimal A-V (atrial-ventricular) and/or V-V (ventricular-ventricular) timing values, based upon device model to use in programming the devices. Optimized timing may increase the efficiency of the heart’s ability of pumping blood to the body. Echocardiography (echo), while considered the gold standard for optimizing devices, is time-consuming and expensive. Timing Cycle Optimization feature produces results clinically proven to be comparable with echo results in 90 seconds instead of the 30 to 120 minutes required for a typical echo.
