Medtronic Announces First Human Implant of World's Smallest, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Pacemaker

Medtronic

, today announced the first-in-human implant of the world's smallest pacemaker: the Micra(TM) Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS). The device was implanted in a patient in Linz, Austria as part of the Medtronic global pivotal clinical trial. The Micra TPS is an investigational device worldwide. At one-tenth the size of a conventional pacemaker, and comparable in size to a large vitamin, the Micra TPS is delivered directly into the heart through a catheter inserted in the femoral vein. Once positioned, the pacemaker is securely attached to the heart wall and can be repositioned if needed. The miniature device does not require the use of wires, known as "leads," to connect to the heart. Attached to the heart via small tines, the pacemaker delivers electrical impulses that pace the heart through an electrode at the end of the device. "Because of its small size and unique design, the Micra TPS can be introduced directly into the heart via a minimally invasive procedure, without the need