Bethesda, Maryland  –   On Nov. 24, surgeons at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) completed the first cardiac contractility modulation device implantation surgery within the Department of Defense. The surgery was lead by Army LTC (Dr.) John Symons.

The cardiac contractility modulation device (CCMD) is a recently approved FDA technology, having only been available in medical treatment since March 21, 2019. According to Symons, the technology had been a “scientific plausibility” for years, but no companies wanted to pursue the technology until recently.

The CCMD is used in patients with heart conditions. “The concept is to make the way the heart works at a cellular, molecular level improve,” said Symons.

While pacemakers have been around for many years, the CCMD doesn’t replace the use of pacemakers. According to Symons, pacemakers function similar to a thermostat, keeping the heart set at a specific rhythm. “A pacemaker is used to treat slow heart rhythm disturbances which are symptomatic,” said Symons.

In contrast, the CCMD uses an inductive charge to pace a high output of electrical current five times a day to assist in a patient’s heart function. According to Symons, The CCMD treats patients with heart failure to “make their hearts beat stronger.”

Even though the CCMD technology is new, the surgery to implant it is familiar to many surgeons. “It was similar to putting in a pacemaker,” said Symons about the hour and a half surgery.