COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardiovascular medicine specialists at The Ohio State University Medical Center are investigating the safety and effectiveness of an experimental device designed to deliver electrical pulses to the heart for moderate to severe heart failure.
The device, called the Optimizer, delivers a rapid succession of electrical pulses that allow the heart to squeeze more strongly than it otherwise would. OSU medical researchers are enrolling patients in the clinical research study, which takes place at 50 sites across the country. A total of 400 patients nationwide are sought for participation in the trial, with a minimum of 10 participating at OSU’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital.
“We hope to find that this device will offer significant improvements to the quality of life for patients experiencing some of the most troubling symptoms of heart failure,” said Dr. William Abraham, chief of cardiovascular medicine at Ohio State and co-principal investigator of the national trial. Dr. Charles Love, director of arrhythmia device services in the division of cardiovascular medicine, is principal investigator of OSU’s participation in the study.
Congestive heart failure affects an estimated 5 million Americans. Of those, up to 1 million are classified as moderate to severe cases, experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue and palpitations that either limit or prevent patients from participating in physical activity. Heart failure is characterized by a reduced ejection fraction - a measurement of how well the heart is squeezing - and often by seepage of fluid into the lungs, feet, legs or abdominal cavity.
The device will be tested in patients who have been diagnosed as having class 3 or class 4 heart failure based on a New York Heart Association classification system. These patients have difficulties carrying out daily activities. During the study, physicians will monitor whether patients feel better and are capable of doing more exercise, and if there is reduced swelling and other symptoms associated with fluid retention.
The study is sponsored by Optimizer manufacturer Impulse Dynamics Inc., a specialty medical device company based in New York and a wholly owned subsidiary of Impulse Dynamics N.V.
Those interested in information about enrolling in the study at Ohio State should call Kiran McCoy, clinical coordinator, at 614-247-7730.
The Ohio State University Medical Center
CONTACT: Emily Caldwell, Medical Center Communications, +1-614-293-3737,caldwell.151@osu.edu, for The Ohio State University Medical Center