Gates Vascular Institute achieves regional first with innovative defibrillation lead implant

Released: Thursday, January 22, 2026 2:26 PM

Gates Vascular Institute achieves regional first with innovative defibrillation lead implant

Kaleida Health is celebrating another milestone as the first site in upstate and Western New York (WNY) to use the FDA-approved OmniaSecure™ defibrillation lead. The procedure was performed at Gates Vascular Institute (GVI) and marks an important advancement in cardiac care for the region. This innovative implantable technology is expected to improve outcomes for patients living with defibrillators who are at high-risk for rapid, potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances that can lead to cardiac arrest.

The electrophysiology team at Gates Vascular Institute performed the procedure under the leadership of Ashish Bhatia, MD, director of the Atrial Fibrillation Center at Buffalo General Medical Center, cardiologist and electrophysiologist at GVI, and James Russell, DO, electrophysiologist at GVI, whose expertise and collaboration made this milestone possible.

Developed by Medtronic, OmniaSecure™ is the world's smallest defibrillation lead and supports both defibrillation and cardiac resynchronization therapy simultaneously. At just under 1.6 millimeters in diameter, the lead is advanced through a vein and positioned in the heart's right ventricle using a minimally invasive, catheter-based approach. It treats life-threatening rhythm disorders such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest, while also providing physiologic pacing support for patients with slow heart rhythms. Its smaller size compared to traditional defibrillation leads fosters long-term reliability, minimally invasive implantation, and reflects continued advancements in device design.

This achievement highlights Gates Vascular Institute's commitment to innovation, physician leadership and collaborative care, ensuring patients in WNY have access to cutting-edge cardiac technologies and improved outcomes.