
01 22 08 | ST.
LOUIS
Clinicians
Share Initial Positive Experiences with New Magnetic
Irrigated
Catheter
Irrigated catheter used with Stereotaxis' Niobe® Magnetic
Navigation System to
treat complex arrhythmias
95% acute
success rate at sites reporting more than 20 cases,
with zero reported complications
Leading European electrophysiologists shared their
initial positive experiences with Stereotaxis' (NSDQ:
STXS) partnered
magnetic irrigated catheter, used with its Niobe Magnetic Navigation
System, during the Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium which concluded
this past Saturday, Stereotaxis announced today. The new catheter,
the world's first magnetic irrigated catheter, is being used by these
clinicians with the magnetic navigation system to treat complex arrhythmias,
including atrial fibrillation. The new catheter was developed by
a partner of Stereotaxis and was launched in Europe in November.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the catheter for mapping
and ablation in the United States earlier this month.
At the Boston Symposium, several hundred assembled
electrophysiologists heard from Prof. Michel Haissaguerre, MD,
of the University Hospital of Bordeaux, France; Prof. Gerhard Hendricks,
MD, PhD, of Universitat Herzzentrum in
Leipzig, Germany; Prof. Karl-Heinz Kuck of AK St.
Georg in Hamburg, Germany; and Prof. Carlo Pappone,
MD, PhD, of San Raffaele University Hospital
in Milan, Italy.
Preliminary data was presented from the first 107 procedures
performed at seven institutions using the
new magnetic irrigated catheter, of which approximately 68%
were to treat paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Among these 107 cases, 90%
acute success rate was achieved. However, at sites that reported
performing more than 20 cases, the acute
success rate rose to 95%. There
have been no reported complications.
In particular, Prof. Haissaguerre described a patient
who had suffered with chronic atrial fibrillation for seven years
despite several aggressive therapies, including a prior ablation
procedure. He performed an ablation procedure using the Stereotaxis
system with the magnetic irrigated catheter and successfully converted
the patient into a normal heart rhythm. The patient has not had any
recurrence of the arrhythmia since the successful magnetic procedure.
"I have been remarkably impressed by the performance
of the Stereotaxis partnered magnetic irrigated catheter since the
mid-November release in Europe," said J. David Burkhardt, MD,
FACC, and chief medical officer of Stereotaxis. "In comparison
with my experience at The Cleveland Clinic with the earlier introduction
of the manual irrigated catheter, the safety profile and success
rates are outstanding. The magnetic catheter has been able to achieve
the difficult endpoints of numerous operators without the need of
manual navigation or ablation. Clearly, the initial experience demonstrates
the ability for this catheter to replace manual navigation and ablation
in very complex arrhythmias. With the recent FDA approval and splendid
EU results, I expect a very successful launch in the United States."
Bevil Hogg, CEO of Stereotaxis, added, "We
are delighted with the initial results of our partnered magnetic
irrigated catheter in the treatment of complex arrhythmias, and expect
that the European release of this catheter will soon be followed
by the establishment of key reference sites in the U.S. using the
magnetic irrigated catheter. Stereotaxis' order rates and financial
performance have, in the past, been linked to regulatory approval
milestones, and we are confident that, once again, when our partnered
irrigated catheter is in use at key reference sites in the U.S.,
we will experience a positive turning point in our sales ramp. Our
partner has indicated to us that this project is of the highest priority
to them, and that they will be vigorously taking all the necessary
steps to ensure a smooth, safe, and expeditious launch in the United
States."
About Stereotaxis
Stereotaxis designs, manufactures, and markets
an advanced cardiology instrument control system for use in a hospital's
interventional surgical suite to enhance the treatment of coronary
artery disease and arrhythmias. The Stereotaxis system is designed
to enable physicians to complete more complex interventional procedures
by providing image-guided delivery of catheters and guidewires through
the blood vessels and chambers of the heart to treatment sites. This
is achieved using computer-controlled, externally applied magnetic
fields that govern the motion of the working tip of the catheter
or guidewire, resulting in improved navigation, shorter procedure
time, and reduced x-ray exposure. The core components of the Stereotaxis
system have received regulatory clearance in the U.S., Europe, and
Canada. The magnetic irrigated catheter is not approved for the treatment
of atrial fibrillation in the United States.
To learn more about Stereotaxis, please visitwww.stereotaxis.com.
T O P I
N
T H E
N E W S S
E L E C T E D R E L E A S E S H
O M E |