BIOTRONIK's Selectra left ventricular lead delivery system receives European market approval

BIOTRONIK, a leading manufacturer of implantable cardiac devices and pioneer of wireless remote monitoring technologies, today announced the European market approval of the Selectra left ventricular lead delivery system.

“BIOTRONIK spent considerable time understanding electrophysiologists' needs and examining the challenges they face with current lead delivery systems. It is this intensive insight that has formed the basis for engineering Selectra's advanced design”

Selectra, which represents a significant advancement in lead placement systems for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, is the first telescopic delivery system for direct delivery of low-profile left ventricular leads to incorporate a slittable hemostatic valve that reduces the complexity involved during a lead implant as well as the likelihood of moving the left ventricular lead as the sheath is removed.

"BIOTRONIK spent considerable time understanding electrophysiologists' needs and examining the challenges they face with current lead delivery systems. It is this intensive insight that has formed the basis for engineering Selectra's advanced design," commented Marlou Janssen, Vice President of Global Marketing & Sales.

"In a challenging CRT case," Janssen continues, "there are two concerns regarding lead delivery. First, you have to ensure that you've achieved optimal lead placement, then you must be able to remove the catheter without altering the position of the lead. The Selectra system appears to be very promising in terms of balancing flexibility and firmness, which will allow easy access to the coronary sinus. Slitting the Selectra sheaths is simple and straightforward."

The device's unique handle design has an integrated side port, allowing for maximum flexibility and one-handed manipulation, which results in ultimate convenience during even the most challenging implantations. The superior shaft design, with its balanced stiffness segmentations, provides optimal torque transmission while preventing kinking of the catheter. The short soft tip design minimizes the risk for dissections during cannulation of the coronary sinus and prolapse during lead maneuvering.

Selectra also incorporates a streamlined, fully integrated hub to minimize handling complexity and maximize the working length of the sheath during implant. Its hydrophilic inner coating reduces friction, thereby increasing the free movement of coronary sinus leads or the subselector catheters during introduction and providing lead dislodgment prevention during the removal of the catheter system.

The Selectra lead delivery system complements BIOTRONIK's broad CRT portfolio, which includes Corox OTW bipolar (BP) leads and premium Lumax CRT-D devices. In January 2011, BIOTRONIK launched the newest member of the Corox BP lead family, the Corox OTW-L BP, which offers a third unique design with excellent stability and handling characteristics. These exceptional advances, together with new 4 F Sentus OTW UP coronary sinus lead, deliver a complete system for telescopic delivery of coronary sinus leads.

Source BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG