Abbott Partners with AtaCor Medical to Advance Investigational Extravascular ICD System
Abbott has announced a collaboration with AtaCor Medical to advance an investigational extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator system aimed at treating patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The partnership combines AtaCor’s parasternal extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead with Abbott’s investigational ICD platform to explore a minimally invasive alternative to traditional transvenous systems.
California-based AtaCor Medical is developing extravascular defibrillation technologies intended to address complications associated with conventional ICD leads, which are placed through veins and into the heart. By positioning the lead outside the heart and vasculature, the combined Abbott–AtaCor system is designed to reduce risks such as vascular injury, lead fracture, and infection, while potentially simplifying long-term lead management.
As part of the collaboration, AtaCor plans to initiate a pivotal Investigational Device Exemption clinical trial in 2026, known as the ALARION EV Study. The study will evaluate the performance and safety of the investigational parasternal EV-ICD system. AtaCor’s Atala lead is placed through a rib space near the breastbone and remains outside blood vessels, while its directional design is intended to deliver defibrillation and pacing energy toward the heart efficiently.
“Abbott is committed to advancing transformative therapies in cardiac rhythm management,” said Randel Woodgrift, senior vice president of Abbott’s cardiac rhythm management business. He noted that the collaboration builds on Abbott’s broader efforts across leadless pacing, conduction system pacing, and next-generation defibrillation technologies.
Paul Friedman, M.D., chair of cardiovascular medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said the investigational system could represent a meaningful advance. “Its ease of implantation and potential to enable ICD therapy outside the heart while maintaining contact with cardiac tissue stands to offer an important novel therapeutic option for patients in need of life-saving protection,” he said.
