Abbott Launches World’s First Dual-Chamber Leadless Pacemaker in the UK

Abbott has begun rolling out its Aveir DR leadless pacemaker system in the United Kingdom, following its CE mark approval in Europe in June. The Aveir DR pacemaker is the world’s first dual-chamber leadless device designed to treat patients with abnormal or slow heart rhythms. It operates by establishing a wireless communication channel between two tiny pacemakers, each about one-tenth the size of a traditional device.

Ross Campbell, General Manager of Abbott UK and Ireland’s CRM division, noted that the launch is set to greatly improve the lives of people with irregular heart rhythms in the UK.

The Aveir DR system sends electrical impulses directly to the heart muscle to regulate heartbeats. Unlike conventional pacemakers, which require cardiac leads and a pulse generator under the skin, Aveir DR uses a minimally invasive, catheter-based approach. This reduces complications and eliminates the need for external components.

Abbott’s innovative i2i (implant-to-implant) technology powers the system, providing synchronized pacing based on the patient's clinical needs. The technology uses high-frequency pulses, transmitted through the body's blood, to ensure communication between the paired devices in the right ventricle (Aveir VR) and right atrium (Aveir AR). This method uses less battery power than traditional radiofrequency or Bluetooth-based systems.