CardioMEMS™ Heart Failure (HF) System

People with advanced heart failure need to monitor their condition from home. An advanced remote monitoring system such as the CardioMEMS™ Heart Failure (HF) System may help patients improve quality of life and slow the condition's progression.

This remote monitoring system is designed to detect fluid build-up in your lungs and inform your doctor quickly. When fluid build-up is left untreated, it can lead to hospitalization, or even life-threatening complications such as sudden heart attack, heart valve disease or irreversible kidney damage. 

What Is a CardioMEMS™ Device?

The CardioMEMS™ HF System helps you and your doctor know when heart failure is worsening — even before you notice symptoms. When your lungs begin to fill up with fluid, the pressure inside the heart rises due to extra fluid. This is an early signal that you need treatment.

Once implanted, the device uses a sensor to measure and record the pressure in your lungs. As part of your daily monitoring from home, this data is sent directly from the system to your doctor, who can act quickly to help you manage your condition. In some cases, you may only need a telehealth visit.

View images of the device in this slideshow:

Who Is a Candidate?

Candidates for the CardioMEMS™ HF System include those who:

• Are comfortable when resting, but experience tiredness, heart palpitations or trouble breathing with activity
• Have had one hospitalization related to heart failure in the past year

How Does It Work?

If you’re a candidate for the CardioMEMS™ HF System, we will schedule you for a minimally invasive procedure in the cardiac catheterization lab. During the procedure, the doctor implants a sensor in one of your pulmonary arteries using a long, thin tube called a catheter.

Once the sensor is in place, the doctor removes the tube. The sensor then begins monitoring the pressure within your lungs. You’ll typically go home the same day of the procedure.

Once home, the sensor monitors changes in lung pressure that signal worsening heart failure. All the system requires is for you to lay on a specially provided wedge pillow for a few seconds once a day to send the information to your doctor.

What Are the Potential Benefits?

Changes can be subtle when you have heart failure. You may not even notice worsening symptoms that, if left untreated, can lead to a hospital stay. With the CardioMEMS™ HF System, your doctor can continuously monitor the pressure in your lungs. This also allows your doctor to act quickly with early treatment that may slow the progression of your condition.

Studies show early intervention with the help of the CardioMEMS™ HF System helps:

• Slow heart failure progression
• Increase quality of life

Ready to Make an Appointment?

Talk to a Temple heart failure specialist about the CardioMEMS™ HF System, and whether it’s right for you.

Request an appointment or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) today.