Detroit Medical Center Becomes First in Southeast Michigan to Study an Implantable Device, Designed to Reduce Patient Time to the ER and Improve Survival Rates From Heart Attack in High-Risk Patients

DETROIT, March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Detroit Medical Center (DMC) Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) announced its first implant of the AngelMed Guardian cardiac monitor and alert system. The system is designed to reduce the time it takes patients to get to the emergency room during an impending heart attack.  Randy Lieberman, M.D., Medical Director, Electrophysiology Services, DMC CVI, performed the first implant in Southeast Michigan, and is among the very first physicians across the United States to implant the experimental device.

The AngelMed Guardian system is designed to track significant changes in the heart's electrical signal and then alert patients to seek medical attention.  The objective of the ALERTS Pivotal Study is to provide an assessment of the safety and effectiveness of the AngelMed Guardian System.

"This study provides an excellent opportunity for some of our patients who are at high-risk of having another heart attack. The device is designed to measure changes in the electrical signal of the heart and alert the patient at the earliest onset of a heart attack so that they can get treatment as soon as possible," said Dr. Lieberman.

According to the American Heart Association, one of every five deaths in the United States is attributable to coronary heart disease. Further, 50 percent of heart-attack fatalities occur within one hour of symptom onset and occur before the patient even reaches the hospital.

The AngelMed Guardian System is comprised of an internal implantable device about the size of a standard pacemaker with a lead into the heart, an external telemetry device, and a programmer that aids physicians in evaluating heart signals.

DMC Cardiovascular Institute is among the first medical facilities to participate in the AngelMed Guardian system trial. To participate in the ALERTS study, patients must meet various inclusion criteria. For more information on the AngelMed Guardian system or the ALERTS study protocol, contact (313) 745-7025.

DMC Cardiovascular Institute is also home to DMC Cardio Team One: The most innovative cardiac response program in the nation. Cardio Team One physicians are on-site, not on call, 24/7, allowing DMC to cut heart attack response time to half the national average and well under the national standard.

The pioneering "DMC Cardio Team One" approach to heart attacks has already begun saving the lives of patients who previously might have died by treating them in half the time of the national standard average which is 90–120 minutes.

Theodore L. Schreiber, M.D., President, DMC Cardiovascular Institute, said "it's very gratifying to be able to offer another innovative procedure to our heart patients. We are committed to providing the very best, world-class care here at the Detroit Medical Center."

Physicians are available for interviews.

For more information on this clinical trial and others, visit www.DMCCVI.org.

About Detroit Medical Center www.dmc.org

The Detroit Medical Center operates nine hospitals and institutes, including Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Harper University Hospital, Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, Hutzel Women's Hospital, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Sinai-Grace Hospital, DMC Surgery Hospital, and DMC Cardiovascular Institute. The Detroit Medical Center is a leading regional healthcare system with a mission of excellence in clinical care, research and medical education.

SOURCE Detroit Medical Center

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