A TINY HEART.
A big breakthrough.
An entire lifetime
of possibility.
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Closing a hole in the
most fragile of hearts
Every baby is born with a hole in their heart. This blood vessel, called the ductus arteriosus, allows them to receive oxygen-rich blood from their mother while in the womb. After birth, the hole should naturally close over the first few days of life, letting the lungs and heart take over. But for thousands of babies each year, the hole doesn’t close properly — known as a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus). When that happens, it can threaten their already fragile life and become a house of cards.
ONE OF HEALTH’S BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGHS, THAT’S
ALSO ONE OF THE SMALLEST
Sometimes solving the biggest challenges means thinking small – very small.
At no bigger than a pea, our Amplatzer ™ Piccolo is one of the smallest heart devices ever. Most importantly, Piccolo is the first U.S. approved device small enough to close a hole in the heart of a premature infant weighing as little as 700 grams (about 1.5 pounds). And because Piccolo is a minimally-invasive device, it can eliminate the need for riskier surgery.
A breakthrough that for thousands of future newborn lives,
will keep open a lifetime of possibility.
A PDA is present in approximately
in
births
1
2,000
PDA risk is considerably higher
in preterm babies
A future with better health and fuller lives
For every breakthrough, there’s another, even greater breakthrough, waiting to be discovered. The possibilities for human health and life’s potential are wide open. Whether it’s a life just starting out or one that’s experienced, Abbott’s technology can help create a future with better health. It’s the most personal technology, technology with the power to change your life.
Learn more
“Irie’s lifesaver”
Born prematurely at 27 weeks, Irie Felkner fought for her life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Hear the story of one of the first newborns to receive this breakthrough device.
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Ductus Arteriosus
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20
%
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HOW IT WORKS
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The world’s first device that can
close a hole in even the tiniest of hearts.
In an infant’s heart, the ductus arteriosus remains open while in the womb so a mother’s oxygenated blood can bypass the lungs and flow directly into her child’s heart.
1
For most babies, their ductus arteriosus closes shortly after birth.
2
But in some cases, this hole fails to close and can inhibit growth and become life-threatening.
Abbott’s Amplatzer ™ Piccolo is inserted through a small incision in the leg, through
the ductus, to seal the opening in the heart.
4
Normal Heart
Amplatzer ™
Piccolo
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
3
Learn More
Learn more
watch video
watch video
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Normal Heart
In an infant’s heart, the ductus arteriosus remains open while in
the womb so a mother’s oxygenated blood can bypass the lungs and
flow directly into her child’s heart.
In an infant’s heart, the ductus arteriosus remains open while in
the womb so a mother’s oxygenated blood can bypass the lungs and
flow directly into her child’s heart.
3
But in some cases, this hole fails
to close and can inhibit growth
and become life-threatening.
4
how it works
Tap numbers To find out more
Learn more
For U.S. Important Safety Information about the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder, visit:
For every breakthrough, there’s another, even greater breakthrough, waiting to be discovered. The possibilities for human health and life’s potential are wide open. Whether it’s a life just starting out or one that’s experienced, Abbott’s technology can help create a future with better health. It’s the most personal technology, technology with the power to change your life.
how it works
Tap numbers To find out more
4
3
2
1
Ductus Arteriosus
In an infant’s heart, the ductus arteriosus remains open while in
the womb so a mother’s oxygenated blood can bypass the lungs and
flow directly into her child’s heart.
1
Normal Heart
For most babies, their ductus arteriosus closes shortly after birth.
2
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
But in some cases, this hole fails
to close and can inhibit growth
and become life-threatening.
3
Amplatzer ™
Piccolo
Abbott’s Amplatzer ™ Piccolo is inserted through a small incision
in the leg, through the ductus,
to seal the opening in the heart
4
Piccolo ISI
Ductus Arteriosus
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
1
2
1. Krasuki, R. A. (2006). Patent ductus arteriosus closure. Journal of Interventional Cardiology, 19 (5 Suppl), S60-S66.
2. Dice JE, Bhatia J. Patent ductus arteriosus: an overview. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2007;12(3):138–46.
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