Dameron Hospital | Health Outlook | Spring 2020

Comparable in size to a large vitamin, the Micra AV device is 93% smaller than conventional pacemakers and does not require the use of leads, or wires. This technology is delivered with minimally invasive techniques through a catheter and implanted directly into the heart, so no surgical “pocket” under the skin is required. The miniaturized Micra device is attached to the heart wall via small “tines,” delivering electrical impulses that pace the heart through an electrode at the end of the device. Fully self-contained, the Micra AV can be repositioned or retrieved, if needed, and has an estimated 10-year battery life . The device is also approved for MRI scans , allowing patients to have access to the most advanced imaging available. The Micra AV was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January 2020. or completely blocked from reaching the ventricles. Back to the beat — with benefits Pacemakers, the most common way to treat AV block, help restore the heart’s normal rhythm and relieve symptoms by coordinating the electrical activity of the atria and the ventricles. When this process, known as AV synchrony, is achieved, patients are healthier and have an improved quality of life and increased blood flow from the left ventricle. “Having Dameron invest in the Micra technology enhances the level of cardiac care we provide to our patients,” says Steven LaViola, MD, cardiologist. “This safer, minimally invasive alternative to conventional pacemakers offers patients a cosmetically invisible solution that delivers better therapy and pacing options, no chest scar or bump and fewer post-implant complications associated with pocket- or lead-related issues. With the addition of the new Micra AV device, Dameron has significantly expanded the number of patients with this condition in the community who can benefit from this highly advanced pacemaker technology.” What is the Micra AV pacemaker? Could the Micra AV help you? Ask your doctor or cardiologist. Steven LaViola, MD, Interventional Cardiologist DameronHospital.org • Health Outlook  5

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