Use of Smaller, More Powerful Implantable Defibrillators at SUNY Downstate Advances Patient Care:
Jun 14, 2010
New Devices Deliver Higher Energy and Greater Safety
To help patients with abnormal heart rhythms that put them at risk for sudden death, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is offering two new devices that can help restore a healthy heartbeat. Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the implantable cardiac defibrillators are smaller and more powerful than previous models, and safer too. SUNY Downstate is the first medical center in Brooklyn to adopt their use.
“I am very pleased that we are offering these advances to our patients,” said John T. Kassotis, MD, associate professor of medicine and director of the Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory at Downstate. “Both of these devices are improvements over older technology and offer significant benefits to our patients.”
According to the manufacturer, St. Jude Medical, Inc., the Unify™ cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and Fortify™ implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) can deliver the highest energy of any defibrillator available today. The company maintains that they are more effective than earlier devices, especially for patients who need a big energy boost to correct their heart rhythm, and that they provide greater safety than earlier models owing to their longer battery life.
Another bonus is the devices’ smaller size and narrow design. This allows operators to make a smaller incision for insertion, resulting in less time suturing and reduced scarring for the patient.
Those wishing more information may call 718-270-4147.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.