A new wave of smart implantable devices is transforming the care of people with heart disease and creating a bonanza for researchers. The hope is that the devices, now being tested in clinical trials, will save lives, reduce medical expenses, and nudge heart patients toward managing their symptoms much the way people with diabetes manage theirs. Patients, who often are frail or live far from their doctors, can be spared frequent office visits, while doctors can learn immediately if devices are malfunctioning or if patients' hearts are starting to fail, the New York Times reports.
