Biotronik releases smaller, lighter, MR-conditional pacemakers

Germany-based Biotronik has launched its smallest and lightest set of heart pacemakers, branded the Edora series, which specialize in patient safety, therapy and comfort while being MR-conditional.

The Edora pacemakers, which are only approved in Europe right now, are smaller and lighter than previous models and are equipped with cardiac resynchronization therapy, according to a Biotronik press release. Biotronik expects them to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration later this year.

“Biotronik’s new series of pacemakers fits well in the current age of smart technologies, with devices that are smaller, lighter and shorter while retaining longevity,” said Saravanan AL Krishinan, MD, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Malaysia, in a statement. "What's more, the devices offer simplified MRI access, which is often crucial for better patient care.” 

The pacemakers are also MR-conditional and feature an MRI AutoDetect functionality, which allows the device’s built-in sensor to detect an MRI environment, and automatically switch the system to MRI mode and switch back automatically once a scan in complete.

Additionally, the Edora series devices include home monitoring settings that collects cardiovascular data from a patient’s device and transmits it directly to a physician without need for any additional interaction. It allows for the early detection of arrhythmias and other adverse cardiovascular events.

“With our new series of pacemakers, we can confidently say that small size, excellent longevity and a full set of features are no longer mutually exclusive,” said Manuel Ortega, senior vice president at Biotronik, in a statement. “For both our pacemakers and our CRT-Ps, we have integrated the best of our technologies to offer patients a unique level of care.”