CardioMEMS, Inc.'s wireless pressure sensor has been successfully implanted surgically into the wrist of three severely hypertensive patients at Hospital DIPRECA in Santiago, Chile by cardio-thoracic surgeons, Miguel Luis Berr, MD and Michael Tuchek, DO.

Designed to allow for a precise and accurate measurement of systemic blood pressure using the CardioMEMS proprietary electronics module, the wireless hypertension sensor is a proprietary Miniature device developed by CardioMEMS to be positioned just below the surface of the skin above the patient's radial artery using a minimally invasive procedure.

After the surgical procedure, both sensor and electronics will allow for additional blood pressure measurements to be taken by the patients at home and to transmit the data wirelessly to a secure database where it will become available for review on CardioMEMS' patient management website.

According to Jay S. Yadav, MD, Chairman and CEO of CardioMEMS, Inc.:

"We believe that this is the first instance of a wireless sensor being used to monitor blood pressure for the management of severe hypertension.

Hypertension, a disease characterized by a chronic increase in blood pressure, is a major cause of heart failure, stroke and kidney failure and is one of the most common diseases in the world.

Precise home monitoring of blood pressure may allow patients to have greater control over managing their own health and may also provide additional information for physicians regarding treatment effectiveness."

The procedure was conducted as part of a clinical trial. The device is not available in the market yet.

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