Sensor empowers heart failure patients: Groundbreaking Israeli technology

The Israeli start-up company Vectorius has developed a tiny (3 mm) pressure sensor, the most advanced of its kind in the world, and the only one that is implanted in the heart. The digital sensor, which is implanted in a catheter and does not contain a battery, transmits data that enables self-management of heart failure patients, the most common and complex disease among Heart diseases. Using a dedicated application, and relying on data from the heart, the patients adjust the medication dosage for themselves, thus preventing the deterioration of the disease and repeated hospitalizations and a significant improvement in the quality of life of the patients.

The published study is a pilot study that examined the safety, usability and performance of the system and the therapeutic paradigm that was developed. The study demonstrated for the first time that self-management of heart failure patients, based on pressure from the left atrium, is safe and effective. After 12 months of follow-up, no complications or side effects related to the system or the self-treatment were reported.  The stability and accuracy of the sensor were maintained throughout the follow-up period, the cooperation of the patients for the treatment was very high and significant improvements were observed in quality of life indicators and a reduction in hospitalizations due to heart failure.

The clinical effect observed in this study may be related to two main observations: first, by self-managing the disease, most patients (90%) avoided very high pressures in the left ventricle, which are considered strong predictors of congestion and pulmonary edema leading to hospitalization. Second, the transfer of control to the patient contains A behavioral component that contributes to the overall effect of the treatment.With the help of the system, patients received immediate feedback that allowed them to balance not only their medication but also their lifestyle.

Today, there are 55 transplant recipients in Israel and Europe with more than 40,000 cumulative follow-up days. This summer, transplants are planned at leading heart centers in the US as part of the continued expansion of the clinical trial. 

Eyal Orion, co-founder and CEO of the Vectorius company: "The publication of the research in a first-rate scientific journal is a historic milestone for a company that has been developing for over a decade not only one of the most complex technologies, but also a new therapeutic method."

"Passing the therapeutic baton to the patient requires advanced, reliable and accurate technology over time and this is a very significant challenge that requires perseverance and patience. We still have a way to go in order to fundamentally change the way we understand and treat the most common heart disease, but together with the amazing Vectorius employees, doctors, our investors and strategic partners we are getting closer step by step. I am very proud of the opportunity we have to position Israel as a pioneer in the field with such a significant impact on tens of millions of patients worldwide."

The Vectorius company was established in 2011 at the Red Biomed Greenhouse by Dr. Eyal Orion and Oren Goldstein. The company employs 100 people in Israel and raised money from the Zisapel family, Zohar Gilon, Ari Stimatsky, Broadview Ventures, GO Capital, and other strategic investors.