AbbottTalks

In this episode of AbbottTalks, Hosts Tom Salemi and Kayleen Brown sit down with Santosh Prabhu, PhD, Divisional Vice President of Product Development for Abbott’s Structural Heart business, to discuss the company’s expanding portfolio and its impact on patients.

Prabhu outlines Abbott’s transcatheter solutions, including MitraClip, TriClip, and Navitor, and shares updates on next-generation mitral and tricuspid valve replacement programs. He highlights how imaging advancements, new materials, and design innovations are enabling minimally invasive therapies for patients who are not candidates for surgery. The conversation also touches on Abbott’s HeartMates program, which connects and supp...

In this episode of AbbottTalks, Hosts Tom Salemi and Kayleen Brown sit down with Ethan Korngold, MD, Divisional Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of Abbott’s Vascular business, to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping decision-making in the cath lab and beyond. Dr. Korngold, an interventional cardiologist turned MedTech leader, discusses the evolution of Abbott’s vascular portfolio and how the company is integrating AI through platforms like Ultreon 2.0 to improve outcomes and procedural efficiency.

The conversation covers specific applications of AI in intravascular imaging, vessel sizing, calcium detection, and future steps in stent plac...

In this episode of AbbottTalks, we dive into the surprising origins of neuromodulation, kicking off with a shocker (literally)—treating headaches with electric fish.

Neuromodulation expert Yagna Pathak, PhD, Medical Science Manager of Medical Affairs at Abbott’s Neuromodulation business, explains how therapies like spinal cord and deep brain stimulation have evolved, detailing their impact on chronic pain and movement disorders. She outlines how Abbott is expanding neuromodulation applications through research in treatment-resistant depression and by integrating AI, wearables, and digital health tools.

Pathak also shares how connected care technologies—including the Neurosphere Virtual Clinic and th...

In this episode of AbbottTalks, we dive into the surprising origins of neuromodulation, kicking off with a shocker (literally)—treating headaches with electric fish.

Neuromodulation expert Yagna Pathak, PhD, Medical Science Manager of Medical Affairs at Abbott’s Neuromodulation business, explains how therapies like spinal cord and deep brain stimulation have evolved, detailing their impact on chronic pain and movement disorders. She outlines how Abbott is expanding neuromodulation applications through research in treatment-resistant depression and by integrating AI, wearables, and digital health tools.

Pathak also shares how connected care technologies—including the Neurosphere Virtual Clinic and th...

AbbottTalks launches Season 3 with a fresh new video presence, a new co-host, and several new powerful conversations from Abbott's senior leaders.

Host Tom Salemi and new co-host Kayleen Brown welcome Vish Charan, divisional vice president of product development for Abbott's Cardiac Rhythm Management, to explore the engineering evolution of the pacemaker—and where it’s headed next.

Charan reflects on the remarkable transformation of pacemakers from large, wired implants to compact, leadless systems that dramatically improve patient outcomes. He details Abbott’s development of the AVEIR™ DR dual chamber leadless pacemaker system, the first of its kind...

AbbottTalks launches Season 3 with a fresh new video presence, a new co-host, and several new powerful conversations from Abbott's senior leaders.

Host Tom Salemi and new co-host Kayleen Brown welcome Vish Charan, divisional vice president of product development for Abbott's Cardiac Rhythm Management, to explore the engineering evolution of the pacemaker—and where it’s headed next.

Charan reflects on the remarkable transformation of pacemakers from large, wired implants to compact, leadless systems that dramatically improve patient outcomes. He details Abbott’s development of the AVEIR™ DR dual chamber leadless pacemaker system, the first of its kind...

In this episode of AbbottTalks, Kartik Sundareswaran, PhD, divisional VP, global clinical and regulatory affairs, Abbott Heart Failure, discusses Abbott’s pioneering work in heart failure care, focusing on technologies that improve outcomes and empower earlier interventions. Sundareswaran’s path to MedTech began with a shift from computer engineering to biomedical research, where his early work studying blood flow patterns in children with congenital heart disease sparked a passion for solving cardiovascular challenges. This passion led him to roles at Thoratec, St. Jude Medical, and ultimately Abbott, where he has spent years advancing heart failure care. The conversation highlights Abbo...

In this episode of AbbottTalks, Sandra Lesenfants, SVP of Abbott’s structural heart business, discusses the latest advancements in structural heart care, focusing on Abbott's transformative TriClip device for tricuspid regurgitation. Lesenfants highlights Abbott’s commitment to patient-centered innovation, emphasizing the importance of creating solutions that meet patients’ needs through safe and effective technologies. She also shares Abbott’s approach to expanding access to minimally invasive therapies, particularly in underserved populations worldwide, and the role of physician partnerships in advancing structural heart interventions. Lastly, Lesenfants underscores the company’s efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials, noting the importance of intenti...

In this episode of AbbottTalks, Jennifer Jones-McMeans, PhD, Divisional VP of Global Clinical Affairs at Abbott and Brian DeRubertis, MD, Chief, Division of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center tackle the complexities of treating peripheral arterial disease (PAD) below the knee, particularly chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), a severe form of PAD that drastically impacts patients' quality of life and longevity. In the episode, the two discuss Abbott's Esprit BTK System, the first-and-only FDA-approved drug-eluting resorbable scaffold for infrapopliteal CLTI. Dr. Jones-McMeans explains how Esprit BTK works by releasing a drug that prevents artery re-narrowing, crucial for maintaining...

In this episode of AbbottTalks, Matthew Fishler, PhD, Chief Engineer & Senior Director, Product Development, Cardiac Rhythm Management at Abbott Cardiovascular, shares his experience helping to develop the revolutionary dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system, taking us through the significant challenges and triumphs of creating a device that ensures precise coordination between the heart’s atrial and ventricular chambers without traditional leads. Fishler recounts the meticulous development process, from initial concept testing using rudimentary "submarines" in saline tanks to achieving FDA approval. He highlights the deliberate approach taken to ensure safety and effectiveness, resulting in a device that now benefits patients with mo...

In this episode of AbbottTalks, Mahmood Kazemi, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Abbott’s Diabetes Care business overviews the profound advancements in diabetes management over the past decade and discusses the evolution of treatments and technological innovations that have revolutionized how individuals with diabetes approach their condition. Further, Dr. Kazemi underscores the benefits of advancements such as the GLP-1 receptor agonists and medications that control glucose levels and offer cardiovascular and renal protection. He then elaborates on how Abbott's FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have significantly improved diabetes management. These systems provide real-time data, empowering individuals to cu...

In the latest episode of AbbottTalks, Abbott Cardiovascular's leaders, Christopher Piorkowski, MD, DVP and Chief Medical Officer of Electrophysiology, and Dan Kaiser, Divisional VP Product Development, Electrophysiology, delve into the vast landscape of electrophysiology and the comprehensive approach Abbott is taking towards atrial fibrillation (AFib) treatment. The conversation highlights a potentially innovative pulsed field ablation (PFA) technology and Abbott's broader AFib portfolio, showcasing a commitment to revolutionizing cardiac arrhythmia management. While the Volt™ Pulsed Field Ablation System could represent a significant leap forward with its unique capabilities for creating precise and tissue-selective lesions, Piorkowski and Kaiser emphasize the diversity an...

In this special episode of AbbottTalks, recorded live from DeviceTalks West in October 2023, we celebrate a pivotal moment in medical innovation: the 20th anniversary of Abbott's MitraClip™, a revolutionary device introduced in 2003. In the episode, the inventor of the MitraClip, Frederick St. Goar, MD, Interventional Cardiologist, El Camino Health, and Abbott's Santosh Prabhu, PhD, Divisional VP, Global Product Development, discuss the journey of the MitraClip, reflecting on its inception, evolution, and lasting impact on cardiac care over the past two decades. Dr. Goar provides insights into the early challenges and motivations behind inventing the MitraClip, emphasizing its role in tr...

In this special episode of AbbottTalks, recorded live from DeviceTalks West, Julie Tyler, president of Abbott's Vascular business, discusses the company's strategic evolution and commitment to comprehensive patient care, including a new technology, the Esprit BTK, intended to be released next year. Additionally, Tyler provides an insider's perspective on Abbott's integration of Cardiovascular Systems Inc., revealing how this move enhances Abbott's portfolio and positions the company at the forefront of vascular health. Tyler's vision extends beyond current interventions, aiming to leverage data and predictive modeling to improve patient outcomes and potentially reduce the need for later-stage interventions. With a...

In the newest episode of AbbottTalks, Ryan Lakin, Divisional Vice President of Digital Solutions, Medical Devices at Abbott, delves deep into the transformative role of digital health solutions in the medical device landscape and emphasizes Abbott's commitment to not just treating the sick but also empowering individuals to maintain optimal health. Lakin shares insights into how Abbott's innovative technologies, like the FreeStyle Libre 2 glucose monitoring system and Lingo, are reshaping patient care by offering real-time data and insights. This proactive approach allows patients to understand their body's reactions to various stimuli, leading to more informed health decisions. Lakin also...

In the newest episode of AbbottTalks, Vish Charan, divisional VP of product development at Abbott, takes us through the inner workings of the recently FDA-approved AVEIR™ DR Dual Chamber Leadless Pacemaker System, from its inception to its successful clinical trial and FDA approval. Charan also dives deep into the technology, revealing the cutting-edge i2i communication technology that powers AVEIR™ pacemakers, enabling seamless communication between devices for dual chamber pacing and AV synchrony. Finally, Charan discusses the challenges of miniaturization, the remarkable advancements in battery technology that have made the AVEIR™ pacemaker possible, and the potential for further applications in con...

In the newest episode of AbbottTalks, Allen Burton, Divisional VP and Chief Medical Officer of Neuromodulation at Abbott, shares insights into the company's innovative neuromodulation therapies. Burton delves into Abbott's FDA-approved treatment for chronic back pain, which uses electrical stimulation to alleviate pain, improve functionality, and reduce reliance on opioids. Burton discusses Abbott’s recent FDA approval to treat people who suffer from back pain with limited surgical options. He also expands on how the company's pioneering treatment for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a condition affecting millions of Americans. This treatment uses electrical stimulation to dampen painful signals in th...

In the opening episode of the DeviceTalks podcast network's newest podcast, AbbottTalks, Dr. Christopher Piorkowski, Divisional VP and Chief Medical Officer of Electrophysiology, and Dr. Philip Adamson, Divisional VP and Chief Medical Officer of Heart Failure, discuss the significant advancements in Abbott's cardiac technology and their forward-looking approach to cardiovascular care. Piorkowski sheds light on the profound impact of technology on patient outcomes in AFib treatment and underscores the importance of enhanced risk stratification tools and personalized therapy approaches. Adamson delves into the progress of Abbott's HeartMate series, specifically the HeartMate 3, highlighting its improved performance and reduced complications compared...