Chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) is the primary cause of hospitalization in people over the age of 65, affecting about 26 million people globally. The related cost in the United States alone is estimated at up to $40 billion. About half that amount stems from hospital readmissions — 25 percent of heart-failure patients are readmitted within a month, and half within six months.

Vectorious Medical Technologies of Tel Aviv recently closed a $5 million financing round for the development of its miniature wireless hemodynamic monitoring sensory implant toward first human trials. Among the investors is the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center of the Cleveland Clinic.

“Our solution will make daily monitoring a routine activity for congestive heart failure patients and their physicians, similar to glucose monitoring for diabetes patients,” predicts cofounder and CEO Oren Goldshtein.

With the push of a button, patients with the Vectorious implant would get a pressure reading from their heart’s left atrium, which will enable optimal adjustment of their medical treatment.

Goldshtein says left atrial pressure provides earlier and more specific indication of cardiac deterioration than does the CardioMEMS device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last May for measuring pulmonary (lung) artery pressure. That breakthrough American device already is reducing readmissions by up to 40%, and Goldshtein believes Vectorious can be even more effective.

It took about four years to develop the first working model of the Vectorious device, expected to be tested this coming year in collaboration with American and Israeli cardiologists. The 10-person company has a subsidiary in Ohio to oversee this next stage. Goldshtein believes the technology infrastructure will have additional applications ahead. (via Israel21c)

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