Legacy Labs Tenant Is Changing Heart Failure Care

Abbott, one of the world's leading medical device companies and a tenant at Legacy Labs, just launched its next-generation CardioMEMS Hero pulmonary artery (PA) pressure reader in the U.S. It's a meaningful step forward for heart failure patients and the clinicians who treat them.

The CardioMEMS Hero device for pulmonary artery pressure readings. (Image: Abbott)

The CardioMEMS system works by implanting a paperclip-sized sensor in the pulmonary artery through a minimally invasive procedure. The sensor wirelessly transmits real-time data on heart rates and pressures directly to a patient's care team, enabling proactive treatment adjustments that can keep patients out of the hospital before symptoms even appear.

The Hero reader is the newest component of Abbott's CardioMEMS HF system, which received FDA approval in February. Compared to its predecessor, it's smaller (roughly the size of a laptop case), 60% lighter, and fits in a carry-on. The device makes consistent daily monitoring more practical for patients on the go. It also supports Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, so clinicians can receive readings and communicate care recommendations from virtually anywhere.

Remote monitoring tools like CardioMEMS are changing what proactive heart failure management looks like.