GENEVA--()--Endosense, a Swiss medical technology company, has announced completion of the first patient case utilizing prototype software that integrates the contact-force data provided by Endosense’s TactiCath® force-sensing ablation catheter1 with Siemens Healthcare’s electrophysiology solutions. Performed by Dipen Shah, M.D., on June 15 at the University Hospital of Geneva, this procedure demonstrated the feasibility of the companies’ jointly developed application for use during the catheter ablation treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The new software was designed to give electrophysiologists access to contact force information in a fluoroscopically enabled, three-dimensional anatomic heart model with X-ray based catheter tracking system.
“I believe this new level of visualization will not only make the procedure more intuitive and easier for electrophysiologists to perform, but it will also allow us to improve our ablation technique in such a way that we ultimately offer safer and more effective procedures.”
“This new contact-force visualization software brings a valuable new sensory dimension to the catheter ablation procedure, as we can now measure, control and also virtually see in 3D the contact forces we apply as we are applying them,” said Dr. Shah. “I believe this new level of visualization will not only make the procedure more intuitive and easier for electrophysiologists to perform, but it will also allow us to improve our ablation technique in such a way that we ultimately offer safer and more effective procedures.”
Eric Le Royer, chief executive officer, Endosense, also commented on the software’s potential. “This first successful patient case is a significant achievement that moves us closer to our goal of offering electrophysiologists the benefits of contact-force sensing in new and value-added platforms. We look forward to our continued partnership with Siemens as we work to take this disruptive software from prototype to commercial stage.”
Martin Ostermeier, Director Innovations of the Interventional X-ray business unit of Siemens Healthcare, added, “The amount of information electrophysiologists have to deal with during ablation procedures is huge. Finding elegant ways to present sensor values like contact force in a 3D image context may help to make a real difference.”
About Siemens Healthcare
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 48,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2010 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.4 billion euros and profit of around 750 million euros. For further information please visit: http://www.siemens.com/healthcare.
About Endosense
Founded in Geneva in 2003, Endosense is a medical technology company focused on improving efficacy, safety and accessibility of catheter ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The company pioneered the use of contact-force measurement in catheter ablation with the development of the TactiCath, the first force-sensing ablation catheter to give physicians a real-time, objective measure of contact force during the catheter ablation procedure. Launched in April 2010 with a full release in September 2010, the second generation of the novel device has been used across Europe to treat more than one thousand patient cases of atrial fibrillation (AF) and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Endosense is currently conducting several post-market clinical studies aimed at proving the superiority of the TactiCath force-sensing catheter over standard irrigated catheters, as well as the TOCCASTAR investigational device exemption (IDE) clinical trial. The company is also executing an open platform strategy to integrate its technology into a range of three-dimensional cardiac mapping systems. BIOTRONIK is the exclusive distributor of the TactiCath in Europe, Latin America, Canada, Africa, and Middle East.
Endosense is backed by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, Neomed, Gimv, VI Partners, Sectoral Asset Management, Ysios Capital Partners and Initiative Capital Romandie. For more information, visit www.endosense.com.
1 Caution: In the United States, the TactiCath is an investigational device. Limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use.
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