Navigating a Device Post-Approval Study During Covid-19

ABSTRACT

Background: The conduct of clinical trials during COVID-19 created challenges to ensuring access to clinical trials, healthy clinical teams, and patients. Innovative methods such as remote patient follow-up and monitoring visits can lead to successful completion of device trials. Objective(s) The INGEVITY+ Active Fixation Pace/Sense Lead Study examined the safety/ efficacy of the INGEVITY+ Lead in a prospective, non-randomized, multicenter, post-approval study. Method(s) Subjects met indications for a pacing device with INGEVITY+ leads implanted in the RA and RV. The primary safety endpoint was the 3-month lead-related complication-free (LRC-free) rate. The primary efficacy endpoint evaluated the 3-month pacing capture threshold with the secondary efficacy endpoint evaluating the other lead-related electrical parameters. Implanter experience was assessed. Telephone visits with LATITUDE remote transmission of lead measurement data and remote monitoring visits were allowed. Result(s) A total of 201 leads were evaluated in 101 subjects, 46.8% female with a mean age of 73.2 years, at 13 centers in the United States. The study took 6.8 months, with a median follow-up of 3.4 months. The 3-month follow-up was completed by 98% of subjects, of which 36% were remote. A total of 98% of monitoring visits were done remotely. The study met all primary and secondary endpoints. The LRC-free rate through 3-months was 98.5% (lower CL 95.4%). Three leads were repositioned and reimplanted;two were RA dislodgements, and one was a RA perforation and hemothorax requiring thoracentesis. The pacing capture threshold was <= 2V in 98.9% of subjects with a mean of 0.77 V at 0.4-ms pulse width, mean pacing impedance of 712 ohms, and a median P-wave amplitude of 4.3 mV, and median R-wave amplitude of 15.9 mV at 3- months. No helix performance issues were reported. The mean turn count for helix extension was 6.7 and retraction was 7.6. More than 85% of physicians rated the lead as 'very good' or higher on all aspects of lead handling. Conclusion(s) The INGEVITY+ Lead was found to be safe and effective with a very favorable implant experience. This study was entirely conducted successfully during COVID-19 with remote follow-up and monitoring visits, and nearly half of the subjects were females.