Endosense, Siemens Healthcare enter joint catheter ablation development project

Endosense, a Swiss medical technology company, and Siemens Healthcare, one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry, have agreed to commence a joint development project intended to integrate the contact-force data provided by Endosense's TactiCath® force-sensing ablation catheter with Siemens' electrophysiology solutions. The goal of the effort is to develop a technologically advanced, all-in-one software application that allows electrophysiologists to visualize catheter-tip-to-tissue contact force within a three-dimensional anatomic heart model during catheter ablation procedures.

“We believe optimization of catheter tip-to-tissue contact force bears huge potential to improve effectiveness and efficiency of electrophysiology (EP) ablation procedures. However, it is important to visualize this new parameter in relation to the 3D anatomy of the heart and, if available, planning data”

"The joint development project between Endosense and Siemens represents a very promising area of future advancement in the field of catheter ablation, as it will offer electrophysiologists a new platform for incorporating contact force sensing into clinical practice," said Eric Le Royer, chief executive officer, Endosense. "An integrated, all-in-one system will deliver greater functionality and efficiency to EP labs, thereby moving Endosense another step toward our goal of improving and expanding catheter ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. We look forward to collaborating with a respected, trend-setting company like Siemens to move this new platform forward."

Endosense pioneered the field of contact force sensing in catheter ablation with its TactiCath force-sensing ablation catheter and accompanying TactiSys system. Launched in April 2010, the second generation of the novel device is now used by electrophysiologists across Europe for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). A growing body of evidence has reinforced the value of force sensing in improving patient outcomes of catheter ablation procedures. Endosense is building upon this data with its recently launched TOCCASTAR investigational device exemption (IDE) study.

"We believe optimization of catheter tip-to-tissue contact force bears huge potential to improve effectiveness and efficiency of electrophysiology (EP) ablation procedures. However, it is important to visualize this new parameter in relation to the 3D anatomy of the heart and, if available, planning data," said Martin Ostermeier, Director Innovations of the Interventional X-ray business unit of Siemens Healthcare. "The goal of our joint project is to demonstrate the clinical benefits of Endosense's TactiCath technology integrated into the advanced 3D imaging capabilities, the syngo DynaCT cardiac of our Artis zee family of cath-lab angiography systems for EP procedures."

SOURCE Endosense and Siemens Healthcare