Deborah Heart and Lung Center successfully implanted its first Optimizer Integra-D Cardiac Contractility Modulation – Defibrillator device.
The procedure, performed by Dr. Raffaele Corbisiero, Deborah’s division director of electrophysiology and pacing, was part of Deborah’s participation in a national clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of this innovative system.
The Integra-D device is a first-of-its-kind investigational technology that combines cardiac contractility modulation therapy with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator — offering heart failure patients not only symptom improvement but also critical protection against sudden cardiac arrest.
“This device represents the next frontier in heart failure management, especially for patients who continue to struggle with symptoms despite optimal medical therapy,” Corbisiero said. “By providing CCM therapy to strengthen the heart’s contractions, along with the life-saving capabilities of an ICD, we are able to offer our patients a more comprehensive treatment option with a single implant.”
Cardiac contractility modulation therapy, delivered via the Optimizer system, is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved treatment that improves the heart’s pumping strength without causing additional contractions. The therapy involves delivering timed electrical pulses to the heart muscle, helping to improve oxygen-rich blood flow throughout the body. CCM therapy has been shown to enhance quality of life and functional capacity for heart failure patients who have limited treatment options.
The Integra-D device combines this proven CCM technology with the protective benefit of a traditional ICD, which can automatically sense and treat life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
“This study has the potential to redefine how we care for heart failure patients by addressing two critical needs at once — symptom improvement and sudden death prevention,” Janice Prodell, Deborah’s Clinical Research Director, said. “We’re proud to be part of this important research that may lead to better outcomes and a better quality of life for our patients.”
Deborah Heart and Lung Center is currently enrolling qualified patients into the Integra-D clinical trial, aimed at assessing the safety and effectiveness of this dual-function implantable device in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.
The device is implanted during a minimally invasive procedure while the patient is under light sedation. The device can then help support the patient in two key ways. It can provide more calcium to strengthen the heart contractions, and it can if needed, save the patient’s life if a life threating cardiac rhythm occurs.
Deborah Heart and Lung Center remains at the forefront of advanced cardiovascular care, participating in multiple clinical trials designed to bring innovative therapies to patients sooner.
