AbbottTalks

In the final episode of AbbottTalks season 3, hosts Tom Salemi and Kayleen Brown sit down with Rebecca Wilkins, divisional vice president of R&D for Abbott’s Neuromodulation business, to discuss the technologies Abbott is advancing for chronic pain and movement disorders.

Wilkins explains how Abbott’s spinal cord stimulation platforms, Proclaim™ DRG Neurostimulation System, and Infinity™ deep brain stimulation system are designed to interrupt errant nervous system signals, helping patients manage conditions ranging from chronic pain and Parkinson’s disease to, potentially, treatment-resistant depression.

The conversation also highlights the features shaping Abbott’s neuromodulation portfolio, including Bluetooth-enabled connectivity, the NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic for remote programming, improved MRI compatibility including prone MRI access, and device options that balance small size with low recharge demands.

Wilkins also shares new data presented at NANS showing significant reductions in pain-related healthcare encounters for patients using Abbott’s spinal cord stimulation and DRG therapies.

This episode is brought to you by Confluent Medical Technologies. To learn more about Confluent, visit: https://confluentmedical.com/. Make sure to catch Confluent's March DeviceTalks Tuesdays webinar highlighting its new technology, Filmcast Select™: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5241831/7E70E13249532E05CA8FB3D51421AD71?partnerref=confluent

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In this episode of AbbottTalks, hosts Tom Salemi and Kayleen Brown sit down with Dr. Finn Gustafsson, Chief Medical Officer for Abbott’s Heart Failure business, to discuss how Abbott’s technologies are transforming care across every stage of heart failure.

Dr. Gustafsson—who spent decades in academic medicine before joining Abbott—explains how the company’s CentriMag™ System, HeartMate 3™ LVAD, and CardioMEMS™ HF System stabilize, sustain, and empower patients in each phase of the condition. The conversation explores what sets Abbott’s approach apart: early intervention through pulmonary artery pressure monitoring, mechanical circulatory support for critically ill patients, and long-term LVAD therapy that’s helping extend lives beyond five years. Lastly, Dr. Gustafsson shares insights from pivotal studies such as MOMENTUM 3, ARIES, and ASPIRE, which demonstrate how Abbott’s focus on evidence and patient experience is advancing the entire field.

This conversation comes to you courtesy of our episode sponsor, Tecan Group Ltd. To learn more about how Tecan works with medical device companies, visit: https://partnering.tecan.com/

Thank you for listening to the AbbottTalks podcast!

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Enjoy this podcast? Follow AbbottTalks on all major podcast players: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/ Subscribe + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

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 supports patients and families as they navigate cardiovascular conditions.

Thank you to Confluent Medical Technologies for sponsoring this episode of AbbottTalks. For more information on how Confluent Medical works with medical device companies, visit https://confluentmedical.com/.

Thank you for listening to AbbottTalks! 

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Enjoy this podcast? Follow AbbottTalks on all major podcast players: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/. Subscribe + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

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 placement guidance. He also addresses physician and hospital system perceptions of AI, why he sees it as a GPS-like tool for guiding physicians through complex procedures, and how it may soon impact pre- and post-procedural care. 

This episode is brought to you by Resonetics. To learn more about how Resonetics supports medical device companies, visit: https://shorturl.at/E1wO8

Want to understand the history of nitinol? Make sure to check out Eric's Veit's Nitinol Innovation: Decade-by-Decade breakdown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eric-veit_nitinol-innovation-decade-by-decade-resonetics-activity-7358601495631552512-hm9D?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAB4aLUBXtw-TjMHSa4dOuAiKreGeEZCZM4

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Enjoy this podcast? Follow AbbottTalks on all major podcast players: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/ Subscribe + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

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 the new Neurosphere Digital Health app—are improving patient outcomes. These platforms enhance access, enable timely interventions, and provide valuable educational resources for patients and providers.

Thank you to Cirtec Medical for sponsoring this episode of AbbottTalks. For more information on how Cirtec Medical works with medical device companies, visit https://www.cirtecmed.com/, and to learn more about Cirtec Medica’s Simplifi Platform, click: https://www.devicetalks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/simpifi-overview_litsheet.pdf 

 Thank you for listening to the AbbottTalks Podcast. Click here to subscribe on your favorite podcast player: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/subscribe.

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 to enable synchronized communication between the atrium and ventricle without leads, using Abbott’s proprietary i2i™ (implant-to-implant) technology.

The conversation dives deep into conduction system pacing, modular upgrades, and how Abbott is shaping the future of cardiac care for millions of patients. The episode closes with a powerful story of a former professional surfer whose life was transformed by Abbott’s innovation—an example of technology enabling patients to reclaim their lives.

Thank you to FPT Americas for sponsoring this episode of AbbottTalks. For more information on how FPT works with medical device companies, visit https://fptsoftware.com/ 

Thank you for listening to the AbbottTalks Podcast. To subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player, click here: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/subscribe.

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 to enable synchronized communication between the atrium and ventricle without leads, using Abbott’s proprietary i2i™ (implant-to-implant) technology.

The conversation dives deep into conduction system pacing, modular upgrades, and how Abbott is shaping the future of cardiac care for millions of patients. The episode closes with a powerful story of a former professional surfer whose life was transformed by Abbott’s innovation—an example of technology enabling patients to reclaim their lives.

Thank you to FPT Americas for sponsoring this episode of AbbottTalks. For more information on how FPT works with medical device companies, visit https://fptsoftware.com/ 

Thank you for listening to the AbbottTalks Podcast. To subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player, click here: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/subscribe.

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 Abbott’s CardioMEMS™ Heart Failure System, a device enabling remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring to reduce hospitalizations, and the HeartMate 3 LVAD, which provides life-extending support for patients with advanced heart failure. Sundareswaran also discusses the new TEAM-HF clinical trial, which combines CardioMEMS and HeartMate 3 to identify patients earlier and deliver timely, effective interventions.

This conversation comes to you courtesy of our episode sponsor, Tecan Group Ltd. To learn more about how Tecan works with medical device companies, visit: https://partnering.tecan.com/

Thank you for listening to the AbbottTalks Podcast. Click here to subscribe on your favorite podcast player: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/subscribe 

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 intentional inclusivity across gender and ethnicity to better serve diverse patient populations.

Thank you to Confluent Medical Technologies for sponsoring this episode of AbbottTalks. For more information on how Confluent Medical works with medical device companies, visit https://confluentmedical.com/.

Thank you for listening to the AbbottTalks Podcast. Click here to subscribe on your favorite podcast player: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/subscribe 

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 sustained blood flow and promoting wound healing. Later, they walk us through the pivotal LIFE-BTK trial, a significant milestone that demonstrated Esprit's efficacy and led to its FDA approval. They also highlight the importance of including diverse patient populations in clinical trials, particularly those disproportionately affected by PAD, such as African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and women. This inclusive approach not only ensures the treatment's effectiveness across varied demographics but also sets a precedent for future trials.

Thank you to Freudenberg Medical for sponsoring this episode of AbbottTalks. For more information on how Freudenberg Medical works with medical device companies, visit www.freudenbergmedical.com.

Thank you for listening to the AbbottTalks Podcast. Click here to subscribe on your favorite podcast player: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/subscribe