Sparrow physician one of first in U.S. to use new pacemaker

Published: March 12, 2014

John Ip, M.D., of the Sparrow Clinical Research Institute (SCRI) at Sparrow Hospital has become one of the first physicians in the United States to implant, with great success, a miniature-sized cardiac pacemaker that has no electrical leads directly inside a Patient's heart without surgery.

Dr. Ip and his first Patient, Charles Meade (left) of Haslett, met with Ch. 10 and Ch. 6 this morning to talk about the procedure. Watch for the full story on the evening news tonight.

The new device, made by St. Jude Medical, is being tested in clinical trials at select centers throughout the United States.  

"I believe this device, which is placed directly inside the heart, will be true game-changing technology in cardiovascular medicine and revolutionize care for Patients with arrhythmias," Dr. Ip said.