A blog about what is new (and old) in the world of active implantable medical devices

Monthly Archives: March 2012

St. Jude Medical Announces Clinical Benefits of Quadripolar CRT Pacing at ACC

Posted on by Posted in Cardiac Pacing, Heart Failure (CHF), St. Jude Medical
Quadrapolar cardiac resynchronization pacing St Jude Medical Unify Quadra www.implantable-device.com

Image Credit: St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical announced that clinical findings on quadripolar pacing will be presented at the 61st Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology (ACC, Chicago, March 24-27 2012).

According to St. Jude’s announcement, quadripolar pacing allows physicians the ability to use multisite left-ventricular (LV) pacing.  Studies that examined the role of multisite pacing in improving hemodynamics and reducing dyssynchrony as compared to traditional bi-ventricular pacing will be presented in the following two posters:

Continue reading→

Cool Reed Switch Manufacturing Video

Posted on by Posted in Magnetic Reed Switches, Tech Talk

Reed Switch used in implantable medical devices www.implantable-device.com

Magnetic reed switches are used in active implantable medical devices as a simple way of placing the device in a known operational mode when a programmer is not available.  For example, placing a magnet on a pacemaker sets it to VVI mode with a manufacturer-specified set of parameters.  In other devices (e.g. implantable cardioverter/defibrillators), placing a magnet on the IPG inhibits the delivery of high voltage defibrillation.

Although the reed switches that I use don’t come from Meder Electronics, I came across a very cool video that Meder produced regarding their manufacturing process.   Continue reading→

Boston Scientific to Acquire Cameron Health for $150M Up-Front + $150M Upon FDA Approval

Posted on by Posted in AIMD Business, Boston Scientific, Cameron Health, Cardioversion/Defibrillation, News
Cameron Health S-ICD subcutaneous defibrillator

Image Credit: Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific announced the exercise of its option to acquire Cameron Health.  Cameron Health developed the world’s first and only commercially-available subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator – the S-ICD® System that I blogged about a few weeks ago.

The agreement calls for an upfront payment of $150 million, payable upon transaction closing, an additional potential $150 million payment upon FDA approval of the S-ICD System, plus up to an additional $1.050 billion of potential payments upon achievement of specified revenue-based milestones over a six-year period following FDA approval.  Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including relevant antitrust clearance, and is expected to occur in the second or third quarter of 2012.

Medtronic Receives CE Mark for CapSure Sense MRI™ SureScan® Pacing Leads

Posted on by Posted in Cardiac Pacing, Medtronic, MRI-safe
Medtronic SureScan Sense MRI Passive Fixation Leads. www.implantable-device.com

Image Credit: Medtronic

Medtronic today announced the receipt of CE Mark and launch of the CapSure Sense MRI™ SureScan® pacing leads, which are approved for use during MRI procedures.  The newly approved leads are the smallest MR–Conditional leads available in the world with a 5.3 French isodiametric lead body.  The new leads are passive-fixation leads.  Previously approved Medtronic MR–Conditional leads are active fixation leads.

Click here for Medtronic’s product page for the CapSure Sense MRI™ SureScan® Pacing Leads.