Another first today as device company LuxCath talks of first use of its clever real-time visualisation system for ablation procedures to correct cardiac arrhythmia.
Background
Atrial Fibrillation(AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the U.S., affecting more than 2 million people, which means about 1 in every 150 individuals. AF has been implicated as a significant cause of strokes, thromboembolic events, and heart failure, costing the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars annually.
LuxCath LLC, develops what it call visualization and optical tissue interrogation systems for cardiac ablation. The company’s catheter-based technology can assess tissue contact, visualize lesions, and detect lesion gaps of viable tissue in real-time, meaning physicians can for the first time have complete control over the efficacy of their cardiac ablation, thereby ensuring the tissues thought to be culpable for producing arrhythmias are completely isolated.
The Company’s technology has been used for the first time in procedures to treat arrhythmia patients, with highly promising results. The ablation procedures were performed in eleven arrhythmia patients including atrial fibrillation patients in Prague at Homolka Hospital, led by electrophysiologist Vivek Reddy, MD, Director of Arrhythmia Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Mount Sinai Health System, and Petr Neuzil, MD, Director of Cardiology, Homolka Hospital.
Physician comments
“In all eleven patients, the technology identified tissue contact and was easy to use. In a wide variety of settings, we were able to assess and monitor ablation lesions as they were being created. There were no complications,” said Vivek Reddy, MD. “This is an exciting step forward in the world of ablation. Based on our experience, the technology platform is quite promising.”
Company comments
“We are thrilled with the performance of our optical tissue interrogation system for contact and lesion progression assessment,” said Dr. Omar Amirana, M.D., LuxCath Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President at its parent company, Boston-based Allied Minds. “Given the potential to positively impact all ablation procedures, we are excited to advance the technology into the marketplace. This is an enormous milestone for the company.”
Source: Business Wire
published: December 16, 2015 in: Cardio, Technology