NY Woman Receives First U.S. Wireless Pacemaker

Posted on August 11, 2009 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Technology

A woman in New York has become the first American to receive a wireless pacemaker. Carol Kasyjanski, 61, says that the device could save her life if the pacemaker were to malfunction, since critical information would immediately be communicated to her doctor.

Kasyjanski has had a severe heart condition for more than 20 years and relied on a pacemaker to keep her alive. But when lead on the device was nicked, problems were not detected until after she passed out.

Now, her doctor can track her health over the Internet with a home monitoring system. If any abnormal problems are detected, the intricate system will call a physician at any time of the day or night. The pacemaker also saves time: about 90 percent of the work is already completed when Kasyjanski goes in for a routine check-up.

“On a larger scale it enhances our ability to pick up and evaluate any problems with their pacemaker and certain other rhythm disorders that could be potentially dangerous or life threatening in ways we really could not do before,” said Dr. Steven Greenberg, the director of St. Francis’ Arrhythmia and Pacemaker Center.

Wireless technology may soon become the standard for more than 3 million people worldwide using pacemaker devices. The Food and Drug Administration approved the wireless pacemaker made by Jude Medical Inc. this July.