SAN DIEGO -- An experimental device may possibly change treatment for millions of people living with congestive heart failure, 10News reported.

Cardiac surgeons at Scripps Clinic say the "heart pod" could allow patients to manage their disease in the comfort of their own home, instead of the hospital.

Patti Menotti suffers from congestive heart failure and is a familiar face at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla.

"Her heart is not as strong as it once was. It has trouble pushing the blood away from the lungs and it tends to build up in her lungs from time to time," said Dr. Paul Teirstein, a cardiologist at Scripps Clinic.

"My lungs fill with water and I am kind of breathless," Menotti told 10News.

The experimental device could help patients with congestive heart failure minimize trips to the emergency room by managing their disease from their own home.

Menotti is making medical history. She's the second person in the United States to have a heart pod implanted.

"There are about 5 million people in this country that have congestive heart failure that might benefit from this device," Teirstein said.

The heart pod has an implanted sensor, the size of a dime, that can monitor left atrial pressure in the heart, 10News reported.

After it's implanted, a patient's heart pressures can be monitored on a handheld computer. The computer readings can let both doctors and patients know if it's time for medications to be adjusted.

"We can increase the medications to reduce the water in the body and make the patients breathe easier and prevent them going into the his congestive heart failure syndrome," Teirstein said.

Patients can check their own heart pressures at home, which Menotti says is easier than checking her blood glucose.

"It will know the medicines I need instead of what I am taking," Menotti said.

Teirstein told 10News that the heart pod could save some patients money, as well.

"If we can have (patients) take care of themselves at home, to a large extent, with just interment visits to their doctors, there will be a lot of cost savings," Teirstein said.

Menotti told 10News she is looking forward to spending less time in the hospital and more time at home.

"It's going to be something else to keep me occupied and out of trouble," Menotti said.

Researchers at Scripps Clinic will follow Menotti for the next year to see if the heart pod improves the outcomes of congestive heart patients.

More patients are needed to take part in this study. If you are interested in participating, call Scripps Clinic at (800) SCRIPPS.