Abbott’s Fishler on Dual Chamber Leadless Pacemaker from “submarine” tests to FDA approval

In this episode of AbbottTalks, Matthew Fishler, PhD, Chief Engineer & Senior Director, Product Development, Cardiac Rhythm Management at Abbott Cardiovascular, shares his experience helping to develop the revolutionary dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system, taking us through the significant challenges and triumphs of creating a device that ensures precise coordination between the heart’s atrial and ventricular chambers without traditional leads. Fishler recounts the meticulous development process, from initial concept testing using rudimentary "submarines" in saline tanks to achieving FDA approval. He highlights the deliberate approach taken to ensure safety and effectiveness, resulting in a device that now benefits patients with more comprehensive cardiac support. Lastly, he explains the innovative i2i communication technology, which uses electrical impulses to enable seamless device interaction, a concept likened to a “moonshot” due to its unprecedented nature. Thank you to ProMed for sponsoring this episode of AbbottTalks. To learn more about ProMed’s prototype services, visit: https://promedmolding.com/capabilities/prototyping/ Thank you for listening to the AbbottTalks Podcast. Tune in and subscribe to DeviceTalks on all major podcast channels to never miss an episode.