Ongoing development and first long-term trials of a cardiac output monitoring system in the pulmonary artery (COMPASS)

Current research in heart failure treatment is focused on therapy optimization by early diagnosis leading to cardiac decompensation. An innovative approach is the measurement of the pulmonary artery pressure by remote monitoring (COMPASS). First in-vivo trials, with acute and long-term settings were performed, evaluating minimally invasive implantation procedure, pressure sensor functionality, fixation, ingrowth and explantability. Histological examinations were done. Results are promising.