Two heart specialists at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in Hackensack, New Jersey, became the first surgeons in the world to implant Abiomed’s Impella RP Flex with SmartAssist heart pump in a human patient. Mark Anderson, MD, chairman of HUMC’s department of cardiac surgery, and Yuriy Dudiy, MD, performed the procedure on Nov. 8.
The patient, a 71-year-old woman, presented with right heart failure and required a minimally invasive valve replacement. She is doing well after the procedure and is expected to make a full recovery.
The Impella RP Flex with SmartAssist received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute heart failure for up to 14 days in October. It is placed into a patient’s heart using a catheter that is inserted through a small incision in the patient’s neck, pumping blood from their superior vena cava to their pulmonary artery.
“Impella RP Flex is a next-generation heart pump technology that can provide temporary right ventricular support for patients who experience right heart failure, allowing the heart to rest and recover,” Anderson, who was involved in the development of this new-look heart pump from the beginning, said in a prepared statement. “This technology is game-changing, because it provides cardiac surgeons with a new, minimally invasive alternative to surgically implanted right heart support devices that require opening the chest during an invasive sternotomy.”
“When patients come to HUMC for cardiovascular care, they have access to some of the world’s most innovative technology,” added Mark Sparta, HUMC president and chief hospital executive. “Placed in the hands of our expert surgeons, technology such as Impella RP Flex is used to deliver life-saving care—often without the need for an open surgical procedure.”
Abiomed expects the Impella RP Flex with SmartAssist to be rolled out in the United States sometime this quarter.
Johnson & Johnson to acquire Abiomed
Just one day after the Impella RP Flex with SmartAssist gained FDA approval, Johnson & Johnson announced that it will acquire Abiomed in a deal valued at approximately $16.6 billion. Johnson & Johnson agreed to an upfront payment of $380 per share, and Abiomed shareholders will also receive a non-tradeable contingent value of up to $35 per share if certain milestones are met.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.