Remote interrogation and reprogramming of cardiac implantable electronic devices using a custom multivendor solution

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Device Technology
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Remote interrogation and reprogramming of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) faced significant technical and safety challenges.
• The need for remote CIED management is critical for emergencies, geographically distant patients, and situations requiring physical distancing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility and safety of a custom solution for remote CIED interrogation and reprogramming.
• To assess the efficacy of the solution across various manufacturers and clinical scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter feasibility study utilizing screen capture and remote cursor control for CIED programmer interaction.
• Primary outcomes focused on technical success rates and absence of complications during remote interrogation and reprogramming.

Main Results:

• 115 remote interrogations were successfully completed in 110 patients across diverse locations and clinical settings.
• 49% of sessions included successful reprogramming, with no reported clinical or technical complications.
• Low screen interaction lag (<1 second) ensured efficient remote control.

Conclusions:

• Remote interrogation and reprogramming of CIEDs are demonstrated to be feasible and safe across various clinical contexts and distances.
• This technology has the potential to improve healthcare access, medical training, and tele-expertise globally.