Aubretta Bean recently became the 9,000th patient to receive Impulse Dynamics’ Optimizer system to treat moderate heart failure. Dr. Chris Ingelmo, an electrophysiologist at Stern Cardiovascular, completed the milestone procedure at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis.
The Optimizer implant allows Aubretta to receive cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) therapy to improve heart failure symptoms. CCM therapy sends unique electrical pulses to the heart to improve contraction, allowing more oxygen-rich blood to circulate in the body.
Aubretta is a patient of Dr. Steven Gubin, a cardiologist and the president of Stern Cardiovascular. She was previously receiving the recommended medications for advanced heart failure and following suggested diet and lifestyle changes, but was not improving.
“Aubretta Bean continued to have symptoms despite following recommended medical therapy for heart failure,” said Dr. Gubin. “She let me know that she felt better almost immediately after receiving the implant. Her lab work four weeks later showed her B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) test decreased by 81%, which is consistent with improvement in her heart failure symptoms.”
Before receiving the implant, Aubretta said she couldn’t walk from one room to another without gasping for air.
“It was like being underwater and trying to breathe through a straw,” said Aubretta. “Heart failure changed my life so quickly. You might think housework is a chore, but when you can’t make your bed or do the dishes, you realize how quickly you would love to do that again. Now after my Optimizer implant, I can do all these things! I look forward to planning my days again and not just trying to get through them.”
Stern Cardiovascular electrophysiologists Dr. Eric Johnson, Dr. David Lan and Dr. Ingelmo have treated 10 patients at Baptist Memphis with CCM therapy since March 2023.
The Optimizer system is the only device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to deliver CCM therapy.
