Trinity Health Muskegon Becomes First West Michigan Hospital to Implant Innovative New Pacemaker
January 8, 2025Categories: Heart Health, Women's Health, Men's Health
For Immediate Release
Emma Nelson, Trinity Health, Emma.Nelson002@trinity-health.org, C 616-260-5101
Chris Zoladz, UM Health West, Christopher.Zoladz@umhwest.org, p 616.252.5033 | c 248.787.6666
MUSKEGON, Mich. (January 8, 2025) – Trinity Health Muskegon recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully implanting AVEIR™ DR, the world’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system designed to effectively treat abnormal or slow heart rhythms. This accomplishment, nearly four years after the launch of the collaborative Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan, reflects the Network’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge cardiovascular care and expanding advanced treatment options.
The FDA-approved system provides a new minimally invasive option to treat the nearly 80% of people who require pacing in two chambers of the heart (both the right atrium and right ventricle).
“AVEIR DR offers beat-to-beat communication between the two leadless pacemakers, providing coordinated cardiac pacing based on an individual’s clinical needs,” said Jackson Liang, DO, electrophysiologist (EP cardiologist), Trinity Health Medical Group, Cardiology – Muskegon and Michigan Medicine’s Frankel Cardiovascular Center. “Our dedicated team is providing patients with the highest standard of care, and I’m proud to be the first in West Michigan to implant this cutting-edge technology.”
Dr. Liang specializes in electrophysiology (EP), analyzing the heart's electrical activity to diagnose and treat abnormal heart rhythms. As a member of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan, he works alongside EP cardiologists Alex Turin, MD; Douglas Moore, DO; and Apurba Chakrabarti, MD, within the Trinity Health Muskegon EP program.
Unlike traditional pacemakers, leadless devices are implanted directly into the heart through a minimally invasive procedure, eliminating the need for cardiac leads (a wire connecting the pacemaker to the heart's interior). As a result, leadless pacemakers reduce people’s exposure to potential lead and pocket-related complications and offer a less restrictive and shorter recovery period post-implantation.
“The system’s technology and absence of lead is an effective option for younger patients, patients with additional vascular issues, and those with increased risk of infection such as requiring dialysis, prior device infection, and immunosuppression,” said Dr. Liang.
The AVEIR DR consists of two devices and is roughly one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker:
- AVEIR VR ventricular leadless pacemaker, which paces the right ventricle (VR)
- AVEIR AR atrial leadless pacemaker, which paces the right atrium (AR).
AVEIR leadless pacemakers are also engineered to be removed should a person’s therapy need to be changed or a replacement device needed. In addition to treating patients with abnormal or slow heart rhythms, the system also treats symptomatic bradycardia, high-grade AV block, complete heart block, and sick sinus syndrome.
“This system is one example of West Michigan revolutionizing care for patients with the latest industry technology,” said Gary Allore, president of Trinity Health Muskegon, Shelby & Grand Haven. “The minimally invasive procedure method benefits our patients with reduced recovery times, better health outcomes, and improved quality of life.”
The Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan, a joint operating agreement between Trinity Health and University of Michigan Health-West, leverages the combined resources and capabilities of the two award-winning West Michigan health systems and Michigan Medicine’s Frankel Cardiovascular Center, one of the nation’s highest-rated centers for cardiology and heart surgery.
For more information, visit the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan website.