Active Implantable Medical Device (AIMD)

What is an active implantable medical device (AIMD)?

An active implantable medical device (AIMD) is an active medical device intended to be partially or completely implanted (medically or surgically) into the body, where it is meant to stay for an extended amount of time. By definition, an active medical device is a device that relies on electrical energy or a power source that is different than what is generated by the human body or gravity in order to function.

These devices may be implanted for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Since they are meant to remain in the body for extended amounts of time, they must meet rigorous requirements and standards to ensure patient health and safety.

Some examples of AIMDs include:

  • pacemakers
  • implantable defibrillators
  • neurostimulators

Why are active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) important for healthcare?

Regarding its diagnostic abilities, the AIMD allows a doctor to continuously observe specific actions of the patient’s body for an extended time. This provides more information than a single reading that would otherwise be obtained when the patient visits the office. Certain conditions, such as those involving the heart, might not always be present, and the AIMD allows the doctor to detect them when they occur.

Other AIMDs offer long-term therapy, with the pacemaker as one example. This device enables the heart to keep a regular rhythm, making it a life-saving device that significantly impacts the lives of those who receive it.