Abbott Leaders Take Center Stage at HLTH Conference

Chairman and CEO Robert Ford, other leaders, outline Abbott’s vision for the future of healthcare.

Strategy and Strength|Oct.16, 2023

Abbott had a robust presence at the sixth annual HLTH conference, which took place Oct. 8 ­­­­- 11 in Las Vegas and attracted more than 10,000 leaders and innovators from across the healthcare industry.

Abbott Chairman and CEO Robert Ford was one of just four solo presenters that headlined the event’s main stage. His keynote, titled “Putting Health in Your Hands,” explored the ways Abbott is leading a transformation in healthcare, one in which people are empowered by technology that helps them change their behaviors in sustainable ways.

“We’re working hard to transition to a system that focuses on keeping us healthy rather than treating us only when we’re sick,” Mr. Ford said. “The potential for this future – one where our body’s information is clear and understandable, where we can make better-informed decisions, at our fingertips – this is what inspires us at Abbott.”

One of the technologies Mr. Ford cited was Assert-IQ ICM, Abbott’s minimally invasive insertable cardiac monitor that securely connects to an app on a person’s phone via Bluetooth and can transmit real-time data to their doctor or clinic.

“This connectedness – and the immediacy and flexibility that it offers – is the future of healthcare,” he said. “It extends beyond the hospital walls and gives you the power to live your life and optimize your care.”

Mr. Ford also gave attendees an overview of Lingo1, Abbott’s consumer biowearable that recently launched in the United Kingdom and is built upon Abbott’s more than 10 years of expertise in continuous glucose monitoring sensing technology as the company’s world-leading FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor (CGM) portfolio.

Similar to FreeStyle Libre technology, Lingo sensors are worn on the back of the arm and track wearers’ glucose levels. Lingo also uses a proprietary algorithm to deliver personalized coaching that help people develop healthier habits, retrain their metabolism and improve their overall well-being.

Abbott Leaders Take Center Stage at HLTH Conference

Additional Speakers

Other Abbott leaders at the conference included Jared Watkin, senior vice president, Diabetes Care, who participated in the panel titled “The Diabetes Money Pit.” During the discussion, Watkin relayed how Abbott prioritized access and affordability while designing the FreeStyle Libre portfolio, resulting in a CGM system that is the most widely used in the world and priced at one-third the cost of competitors.

Vish Charan, divisional vice president, product development for Abbott’s Cardiac Rhythm Management business, delivered a Tech Talk on how his team developed AVEIR DR, the world’s first FDA-approved dual chamber leadless pacemaker system featuring groundbreaking technology that uses the blood’s naturally conductive characteristics to relay messages between each pacemaker.

Finally, Mary Pittman, DrPH, president and CEO of the Public Health Institute and an advisor to Abbott’s Center for Malnutrition Solutions, moderated “Nourishing Our Nation,” a panel discussion on the many ways that food impacts health. During the panel, Pittman shared Abbott’s Future Well Communities Healthy Food Rx program in Stockton, CA, for people in the community with diabetes. 

1 The Lingo Glucose System is intended for users 18 years and older not on insulin. It is not intended for diagnosis of diseases, including diabetes.

The Lingo program does not guarantee that everyone will achieve the same results as individual responses may vary. Consult your healthcare professional before making changes to your diet or exercise regimen or if you have an eating disorder or a history of eating disorders.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

ASSERT-IQ

AVEIR™ DR

FreeStyle Libre 14 Day, FreeStyle Libre 2 and FreeStyle Libre 3 systems

Failure to use FreeStyle Libre 14 day, FreeStyle Libre 2 or FreeStyle Libre 3 systems as instructed in labeling may result in missing a severe low or high glucose event and/or making a treatment decision, resulting in injury. If glucose alarms and readings do not match symptoms or expectations, use a fingerstick value from a blood glucose meter for treatment decisions. Seek medical attention when appropriate or contact Abbott at 855-632-8658 or FreeStyleLibre.us for safety info.

ASSERT-IQ

By Prescription Only

Abbott Insertable Cardiac Monitors

Rx Only

Brief Summary: Prior to using these devices, please review the Instructions for Use for a complete listing of indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, potential adverse events and directions for use.

Indications for Use: Abbott ICMs are indicated for the monitoring and diagnostic evaluation of patients who experience unexplained symptoms that may be cardiac-related such as: dizziness, palpitations, chest pain, syncope, and shortness of breath, as well as patients who are at risk for cardiac arrhythmias such as bradycardia, tachycardia, and sinus pauses. Abbott ICMs are also indicated for patients who have been previously diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) or who are susceptible to developing AF. Abbott ICMs are intended to be inserted subcutaneously in the left pectoral region, also described as the left anterior chest wall. Abbott ICMs have not been specifically tested for pediatric use.

Intended Use: Abbott ICMs are intended to help physicians and clinicians monitor, diagnose and document the heart rhythm in patients who are susceptible to cardiac arrhythmias and unexplained symptoms by detecting arrhythmias and transmitting data for review.

Contraindications: There are no known contraindications for the insertion of Abbott ICMs. However, the patient’s particular medical condition may dictate whether or not a subcutaneous, chronically inserted device can be tolerated.

Potential Adverse Events: Possible adverse events (in alphabetical order) associated with the device, include the following: allergic reaction, bleeding, chronic nerve damage, erosion, excessive fibrotic tissue growth, extrusion, formation of hematomas or cysts, infection, keloid formation and migration.

Refer to the User’s Manual for detailed indications for use, contraindications, warnings, precautions and potential adverse events.

An Abbott mobile transmitter is available for patients without their own compatible mobile device

AVEIR™ DR

Rx Only

Brief Summary: Prior to using these devices, please review the Instructions for Use for a complete listing of indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, potential adverse events and directions for use.

Indications: The Aveir™ Leadless Pacemaker system is indicated for management of one or more of the following permanent conditions: Syncope, Pre-syncope, Fatigue, Disorientation. Rate-modulated pacing is indicated for patients with chronotropic incompetence, and for those who would benefit from increased stimulation rates concurrent with physical activity. Dual-chamber pacing is indicated for patients exhibiting: Sick sinus syndrome, Chronic, symptomatic second- and third-degree AV block, Recurrent Adams-Stokes syndrome, Symptomatic bilateral bundle-branch block when tachyarrhythmia and other causes have been ruled out. Atrial pacing is indicated for patients with: Sinus node dysfunction and normal AV and intraventricular conduction systems. Ventricular pacing is indicated for patients with: Significant bradycardia and normal sinus rhythm with only rare episodes of AV block or sinus arrest, Chronic atrial fibrillation, Severe physical disability.

Intended Use: The Aveir™ Leadless Pacemaker (LP) is designed to provide bradycardia pacing as a pulse generator with built-in battery and electrodes for implantation in the right ventricle and/or right atrium. The LP is intended to provide sensing of intrinsic cardiac signals and delivery of cardiac pacing therapy within the implanted chamber for the target treatment group. The LP is also intended to operate optionally with another co-implanted LP to provide dual-chamber pacing therapy.

The Aveir™ Delivery Catheter is intended to be used in the peripheral vasculature and the cardiovascular system to deliver and manipulate an LP. Delivery and manipulation includes implanting an LP within the target chamber of the heart.

Contraindications: Use of the Aveir™ Leadless Pacemaker is contraindicated in these cases:

  • Use of any pacemaker is contraindicated in patients with a co-implanted ICD because high-voltage shocks could damage the pacemaker and the pacemaker could reduce shock effectiveness.
  • Single-chamber ventricular demand pacing is relatively contraindicated in patients who have demonstrated pacemaker syndrome, have retrograde VA conduction, or suffer a drop in arterial blood pressure with the onset of ventricular pacing.
  • Programming of rate-responsive pacing is contraindicated in patients with intolerance of high sensor driven rates.
  • Use is contraindicated in patients with an implanted vena cava filter or mechanical tricuspid valve because of interference between these devices and the delivery system during implantation.
  • Persons with known history of allergies to any of the components of this device may suffer an allergic reaction to this device. Prior to use on the patient, the patient should be counseled on the materials (listed in the Product Materials section of the IFU) contained in the device and a thorough history of allergies must be discussed.

 

Adverse Events: Potential complications associated with the use of the Aveir™ Leadless Pacemaker system are the same as with the use of single or dual chamber pacemakers with active fixation pacing leads including, but not limited to: Cardiac perforation, Cardiac tamponade, Pericardial effusion, Pericarditis, Valve damage and/or regurgitation, Heart failure, Pneumothorax/hemothorax, Cardiac arrhythmias, Diaphragmatic/phrenic nerve stimulation / extra-cardiac stimulation, Palpitations, Hypotension, Syncope, Cerebrovascular accident, Infection, Hypersensitivity reaction to device materials, contrast media, medications, or direct toxic effect of contrast media on kidney function, Pacemaker syndrome, Inability to interrogate or program the LP due to programmer or LP malfunction, Intermittent or complete loss of pacing and/or sensing due to dislodgement or mechanical malfunction of the LP (non-battery related), Loss of capture or sensing due to embolization or fibrotic tissue response at the electrode, Increased capture threshold, Inappropriate sensor response, Interruption of desired LP function due to electrical interference, either electromyogenic or electromagnetic, Battery malfunction/ premature battery depletion, Device-related complications (Premature deployment, Device dislodgement/embolization of foreign material, Helix distortion), Death. As with any percutaneous catheterization procedure, potential complications include, but are not limited to: Vascular access complications; such as perforation, dissection, puncture, groin pain, Bleeding or hematoma, Thrombus formation, Thromboembolism, Air embolism, Local and systemic infection, Peripheral nerve damage. General surgery risks and complications from comorbidities; such as hypotension, dyspnea, respiratory failure, syncope, pneumonia, hypertension, cardiac failure, reaction to sedation, renal failure, anemia, and death.

MAT-2306873 v1.0 | Item is approved for US Use