Tenants Get Pumped Up for Cardio Technology Demo
Hopping on the bandwagon with the seasonal hype around all things pumpkin, we at Technology Enterprise Park (TEP) leveled up by hosting a PSL-fueled Coffee Talk to learn about pump-ing hearts!
Hosted by Deepro Gangulee, Sr. Manager, Facilities Engineering and Andrew Siefert, Medical Device Professional of Abbott, a global healthcare leader (and TEP tenant!), attendees were invited to experience a live demo of their CardioMEM technology – and to show the TEP community what exactly is being manufactured on the top floors of our building.
Andrew, who led the demo, first discussed the cardiovascular technology product and future projects to come out of the Abbott innovation team. Having almost a decade in the health tech field, Andrew offered expert opinions and insight into the cardio tech world. And adding even more to his credibility was his journey in entrepreneurship, where he co-founded a company focused on atrioventricular technology. This experience gave him a unique perspective on innovation, which is evident in his work and during the demonstration.
According to their website, Abbott’s CardioMEMS™ HF System is the leading remote monitoring platform for both HFpEF1 and HFrEF patients clinically proven to:
Aid physicians in preventing worsening heart failure
Lower heart failure mortality rates
Improve quality of life for heart failure patients
As Andrew demonstrated, the gold plated sensor is inserted using a catheter, and once inside the heart, it requires no electricity to function. The sensor then sends pulmonary artery pressure data to a pillow-like data reading device from the comfort of patients’ own homes. The data is also shared to a physician database to keep medical records up-to-date, and to help clinicians make the most appropriate treatment plan possible in real time.
Image courtesy of Abbott
As participants from both Abbott and VERO Biotech were educated, they were also asked how they take care of their heart health. The following were common themes amongst the responses:
Beet juice
Cardio
Eating healthy
Exercise
Vitamins and check ups
Staying hydrated
As the conversations amongst community members continued, they shared their relationship to cardiovascular health and health tech, as well as common experiences in their work, all while enjoying pumpkin spiced treats!
This event was just a small introduction into the products and research being developed by Abbott, as their portfolio and solutions go beyond cardiovascular technologies, into areas such as nutrition, diabetes care, diagnostics, neuromodulation, and medicines. Nonetheless, it offered a way for community members to connect and learn from each other regarding a similar topic, reminding them that you never know who your neighbors are or what insight they can help provide if you don't engage.