Perspectives In Heart Failure: Corox OTW BP And S-BP Leads Offer Innovative Design For Stable Fixation In Even Unusual Coronary Vessel Anatomies

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Medical Devices
Article Date: 26 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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BIOTRONIK announced the market release of two new bipolar coronary sinus leads for use in the left ventricle for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The Corox™ OTW BP and Corox™ OTW S-BP leads offer a unique design that allows them to fixate in even unusual coronary vessel anatomies, which can preclude the use of other leads. They are designed for use in patients with heart failure.

Heart failure is a debilitating condition characterized by progressive weakening of the cardiac muscles and is frequently associated with a dyssynchronous contraction pattern of the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart) which can be treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This device-based treatment has been proven in large-scale randomized clinical trials to improve survival and quality-of-life in certain heart failure patients.

CRT devices require implantation of a pacing lead in both right and left ventricles of the heart. However, navigating and finding stable fixation on the left side of the heart has been a challenge with implanting CRT devices. Patients with particularly short, twisting, small, or occluded vessels in this area may not be able to receive the benefits of CRT because many left-ventricular pacing leads simply could not be placed in such vessels.

The Corox OTW BP and S-BP leads offer new innovative technology that can help overcome the difficulties of navigating to the left side of heart and assuring that the left-ventricular leads achieve stable fixation.

Together, these new bipolar left-heart leads can work in the broad range of coronary vessels implanting physicians confront daily in clinical practice. These new leads developed by BIOTRONIK were designed to help provide smoother implantations with fewer complications and ensure stronger performance over the long term.

The superiority of this new lead technology is a result of the following features:

- The Corox OTW S-BP offers a unique, threaded silicone fixation mechanism that allows the lead to attach itself in even very narrow or very short coronary veins, the most problematic vessels for conventional leads,

- The Corox OTW BP offers a proprietary Progressive Curve Helix that expands much like a stent, enabling the lead to achieve stable fixation in a wide range of coronary veins, including very large-diameter vessels,

- Both leads build on the established Corox family of heart failure leads, known for their reliability and high performance characteristics, including low stimulation thresholds and low rates of dislodgment.

"The clinically proven morbidity and mortality benefits of CRT could not be extended to every patient who would benefit from them, simply because the coronary vessels of certain patients were not suitable to accommodate conventional left-ventricular leads," stated Jake Langer, President of BIOTRONIK, Inc. "BIOTRONIK has overcome this challenge with unique and revolutionary new technology that allows these leads to be safely and effectively placed even in patients with unusual coronary vessel anatomy."

About BIOTRONIK, Inc.

As one of the world's leading cardiovascular medical device companies, with several million implanted devices, BIOTRONIK is present in all world markets. Known for having its finger on the pulse of the medical community, BIOTRONIK helps to assess the challenges physicians face, and provides the best solutions, be it cardiac implants, minimal invasive devices or other products and services ranging from diagnosis to electrotherapy and vascular intervention or therapy management. Quality, innovation, and reliability define BIOTRONIK and its growing success, and deliver confidence and peace of mind to physicians and their patients worldwide.

http://www.biotronik.com